Interventional Cardiology

This cardiac subspecialty uses minimally invasive, catheter-based technologies in a cath lab to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD). The main focus in on percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to revascularize patients with CAD that is causing blockages resulting in ischemia or myocardial infarction. PCI mainly consists of angioplasty and implanting stents. Interventional cardiology has greatly expanded in scope over recent years to include a number of transcatheter structural heart interventions.

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Low-risk chest pain may account for most PCI readmissions

Readmission after PCI is common, and a study published online online Jan. 14 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions found that PCI readmissions were most often due to recurrent chest pain or angina symptoms that were typically not caused by a heart attack. Instead, the symptoms were often related to diagnostic studies or procedures.

MI outcomes may be worse when treated during off-hours

Patients who present with heart attacks during off-hours may have worse outcomes than patients who seek treatment during regular hours, according to an analysis published online Jan. 21 in BMJ. Patients with acute MI had higher mortality rates and STEMI patients had longer door-to-balloon times.

Anatomic burden better predictor than ischemic burden

Coronary anatomic burden is a better predictor of death, MI and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) than ischemic burden among patients with coronary artery disease and evidence of myocardial ischemia, a study published online Jan. 15 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions found. 

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Q&A: Co-PI Jeffrey Popma on CoreValve’s FDA approval

Medtronic announced on Jan. 17 that the FDA had approved its CoreValve System for patients with severe aortic stenosis who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement, based on results from the CoreValve Extreme Risk clinical trial. Co-principal investigator Jeffrey J. Popma, MD, director of interventional cardiology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, talked with Cardiovascular Business about the impact of the FDA’s decision.

Report targets cognitive outcomes after cardiovascular procedures

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is making a draft report that assessed cardiovascular procedures and their subsequent effect on cognitive function available for public review.

FDA panel united against approval of Xarelto

An FDA advisory panel voted 10-0 with one abstention against approval of the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban to reduce the risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Eyeball test may not see risk accurately

Statistical estimates of mortality risk after cardiac surgery are more accurate than physician estimates based on clinical assessments—also known as the “eyeball test”—although both methods tend to overestimate risk, a study published online Jan. 14 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes found.

Stem cells may not improve post-STEMI LV function

Administering stem cells after STEMI did not improve left ventricular ejection fraction after one year, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 15 issue of JAMA.

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