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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An updated look at combining LAAO with ablation, TAVR or other interventional heart procedures

Performing two procedures at once does not appear to make a significant impact on patient safety, though it may lead to a few new risks sure to interest heart teams. 

Pi-Cardia ShortCut TAVR device

FDA grants new valve-in-valve TAVR offering its breakthrough device designation

The new device was designed to help clinicians perform valve-in-valve TAVR on certain high-risk patients. One cardiologist familiar with the technology said it could be easily added to any preexisting TAVR workflow. 

Samin Sharma, MD, director of interventional cardiology and director of clinical cardiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, discusses the first-in-human use of the Magenta Elevate percutaneous left ventricular assist device (pLVAD) with a small 10 French size and 5.5 liters per minute of hemodynamic support.

Initial results promising for world's smallest percutaneous heart pump

A new 10 French percutaneous heart pump could help greatly reduce vascular complications and improve cardiogenic shock outcomes.

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Valve-in-valve TAVR with Medtronic’s CoreValve devices still safe and effective after 5 years

Researchers tracked five-year data from more than 200 patients, sharing their findings in the American Journal of Cardiology.

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Preventing blood clots after TMVR—what is the best anticoagulant for the job?

Choosing between DOACs and VKAs could make a significant impact on patient outcomes, according to new findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

PCI

Bleeding after PCI remains a significant issue for interventional cardiologists around the world

A new meta-analysis included data from nearly 400,000 PCI patients treated in the United States, Germany, Japan or Israel. 

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Colchicine after AFib ablation fails to reduce risk of arrhythmia recurrence

However, the popular anti-inflammatory drug was linked to at least one other clinical benefit cardiologists should know about. 

Regularly eating avocados is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

Fasting before cardiac catheterization may not be necessary—recommend a heart-healthy diet instead

“Patients can safely continue oral intake until the time of the procedure, improving their satisfaction and comfort without adverse events,” researchers wrote.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.