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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NEJM Feature: GI bleeds reduced with clopidogrel-PPI mix, no rise in CV events

A final peer-review of the COGENT study confirms preliminary results that the combination of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) does not cause cardiovascular (CV) events. The latest results, however, also show a significant reduction in the rate of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, according to the study published online Oct. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

TCT: Platelet testing should be incorporated into routine clinical practice

Patients undergoing PCI and being treated with clopidogrel should be routinely tested for platelet function because patients have individualized responses to the drug, Jurrin M. ten Berg, PhD, said during a presentation at the 22nd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting Sept. 23 in Washington, D.C.

AHJ: Underdosing of beta-blockers post-MI is far too common

Underdosing of beta-blockers is highly prevalent among patients post-MI, and represents an important opportunity in quality improvement for the care of patients who have suffered an MI, according to research published in the September issue of the American Heart Journal.

U.S. gov't lets deadline pass regarding Angiomax patent dispute

The time period has expired for the U.S. government to challenge a court's decision that The Medicines Company had filed a timely request for a patent extension for bivalirudin (Angiomax).

TCT: Perforations during PCI should not be dismissed

PCI complicated by grade III coronary perforation is associated with complex lesions and high acute and long-term major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rates, according to research presented Sept. 22 at the annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in Washington, D.C.

Abiomed to train providers on Impella procedures

Abiomed will partner with select healthcare institutions for hemodynamic support training and patient management initiatives for heart muscle recovery through prophylactic Impella cardiac assist device-supported revascularization.

AHA issues recommendations for arteriotomy closure device use

Using arteriotomy closure devices during cardiovascular procedures can decrease patient discomfort and may improve outcomes; however, clinical evidence is sparse, and more is needed to identify larger patient populations that may benefit, according to a scientific statement published on behalf of the American Heart Association (AHA).

TIMI group to study ticagrelor in ACS patients

The PEGASUS-TIMI 54 clinical trial will assess the safety and long-term efficacy of ticagrelor (Brilinta, AstraZeneca) to reduce cardiovascular events compared to aspirin treatment in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

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