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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Off-hour Cath Lab Scheduling

Scheduling staff for the cardiac cath lab can cause headaches for administrators, especially for time-sensitive, off-hour emergencies. Three facilities explain their methodologies for alleviating this common practice management concern.

Overcoming Barriers to Routine Use of IVUS, FFR & OCT

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), fractional flow reserve (FFR) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are tools that may be used in a complementary manner and could enhance PCI and patient outcomes. Yet, penetration remains spotty, even in larger facilities.

News & Views

Redberg sounds off on PARTNER trial; RE: PARTNER investigators respond

AHJ: Primary PCI should be first-line reperfusion strategy, if accessible

Primary PCI should be considered as a first choice reperfusion strategy when feasible, according to a meta-analysis published in this month's American Heart Journal. Researchers found primary PCI was linked to a reduction in 30-day mortality, irrespective of a patient's baseline risk.

CCI: How to implement quality improvement in the cath lab

While PCI improves the quality of life and survival in certain clinical settings, these benefits are counterbalanced by the procedural risks. To encourage quality patient care, each PCI program must evaluate its performance through a meaningful continuous quality improvment (CQI) process. To help in this process, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has published a position paper on implementing a CQI program, which appeared online March 2 in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.

Corindus launches PRECISE robotics PCI trial

PRECISE (Percutaneous Robotic-Enhanced Coronary Intervention Study), a trial assessing PCI procedures using the CorPath 200 system (Corindus Vascular Robotics), has been launched in New York City and Boston.

JACC: Left main in-stent restenosis MACE equal to CABG

Rates of in-stent restenosis after a drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease reach almost 20 percent; however, incidence of cardiac events does not differ between treatment modalities, according to research published in the March 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

JACC: Initial restenosis pattern is important predictor of reintervention

The initial pattern of restenosis is the most important predictor of recurrent restenosis or the need of subsequent reintervention, according to the results of the DES-ISR study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions. Compared with focal lesions, patients with occlusive and diffuse lesions saw the highest rates of restenosis.

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