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.

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science
Former American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, explains his main takeaway messages from the ACC 2025 late-breaking trials.
New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS
Two separate studies at ACC.25 explored data from the EARLY TAVR trial. One analysis included stroke findings that surprised researchers.
Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure
The positive data were presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.25 in Chicago. One cardiologist on stage for the presentation said these findings will impact the way he manages certain TAVR patients.
Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients
Naples Comprehensive Health is building up what it hopes will be a nationally recognized cardiology program. Robert Cubeddu, MD, and Dee Dee Wang, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the journey so far.
Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS
Aortic valve replacement is likely inevitable for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Immediately performing TAVR or SAVR, however, may not always be the answer.

Hospital volume independently predicts AVR mortality

High-risk patients who need aortic valve replacements (AVR) with or without CABG may benefit from hospitals that perform a high volume of these procedures, according to a study published in the November issue of Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

TCT: OPTIMIZE supports 3-month DAPT in some patients

SAN FRANCISCO—Some patients implanted with a newer generation drug-eluting stent (DES) may safely discontinue dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) at three months, results from the OPTIMIZE trial presented Oct. 31 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific session in San Francisco showed. 

TCT recap: TRYTON, EuroMax, CoreValve, TAVR with CoreValve

In case you missed it, here is our previous coverage from TCT.

TCT: ADVISE II offers adenosine-free approach to assess lesions

SAN FRANCISCO—Would interventional cardiologists be more amenable to incorporating tools for assessing coronary stenosis before performing PCI or CABG if they could ditch the use of vasodilator drugs? Results from the ADVISE II registry trial presented Oct. 30 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference in San Francisco may nudge them in that direction.

TCT recap: SAFE PCI, CHAMPION PHOENIX & OPEN II

In case you missed it, here is our previous coverage from the conference.

TCT: Giving bivalirudin in ambulance improves STEMI outcomes

SAN FRANCISCO—Research presented Oct. 30 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific session in San Francisco showed that administering bivalirudin to STEMI patients in an ambulance reduces the risk of death and major bleeding complications compared to heparin. But don’t expect quick adoption of the strategy in the U.S.

TCT: TRYTON misses the mark but reasons under debate

SAN FRANCISCO—The pivotal TRYTON trial failed to meet its primary clinical endpoint, findings that underscore limitations with classical clinical trial criteria, the lead investigator and panelists suggested Oct. 30 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific session in San Francisco.

OrbusNeich's COMBO(tm) Dual Therapy Stent shows excellent early healing and durable outcomes out to 24 months

OrbusNeich today announced that new clinical data presented at TCT 2013 show durable outcomes as well as excellent early healing and optimal neointimal suppression out to 24 months following placement of the COMBO Dual Therapy Stent. These results from the EGO-COMBO Study were presented by Stephen W.L. Lee, M.D., of the Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, China, at the annual interventional cardiology conference in San Francisco.

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Interventional Cardiology

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science

New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure

Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients

Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS

Around the web