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.

Cardiologists reflect on developing primary PCI in face of criticism and pushback
SCAI celebrated cardiologists William W. O'Neill, MD, and Cindy L. Grines, MD, for the important roles they played in the development of primary PCI. “It was challenging,” Grines explained. “We had the pharmaceutical industry that was anti-primary angioplasty and we had a lot of our own colleagues that were anti-primary angioplasty."
How TAVR valve choice impacts outcomes when treating type 1 bicuspid AS
Self-expanding and balloon-expandable TAVR valves are associated with comparable success rates and one-year outcomes when treating type 1 bicuspid aortic stenosis. However, each valve type comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
IVUS-guided PCI reduces risks in patients with diabetes
PCI can be more challenging in high-risk patients presenting with diabetes and ACS. IVUS guidance was associated with improved outcomes among these patients compared to angiography guidance alone.
Medtronic using AI to identify more TAVR patients in need
Medtronic has launched new research into AI's potential to identify patients with severe aortic stenosis and other worrying symptoms. The company hopes to overcome longstanding health disparities and reach individuals who may otherwise go untreated.
SAVR linked to higher 10-year survival rate than TAVR for low-risk patients
TAVR patients in this study were treated with early-generation devices that have since been updated, but researchers still believe their data are relevant to today's care teams.

TCT: Toshiba expands flat-panel angio options

Toshiba America Medical Systems Infinix-i biplane x-ray angiography systems is now available with a mid-sized (12 x 12) flat panel detector, and was showcased at the 21st annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference.

October 7, 2009

TCT: Siemens offers large high-resolution display screen

Siemens Healthcare now offers a 56-inch, high-resolution display screen for surgery, interventional radiology and interventional cardiology, which the company demonstrated at the 21st annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference.

October 7, 2009

Medicines Company prez, COO resigns

John P. Kelley has resigned as The Medicines Companys president and chief operating officer (COO).

October 7, 2009

TCT: GE, Steris expand hybrid cath lab options

GE Healthcare added another notch to its partnership with Steris by receiving 510(k) clearance from the FDA to use its Innova x-ray digital angiography system to perform minimally invasive surgery, according to a company spokesperson at the 21st annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference.

October 7, 2009

Report: DES has lowest use in Arkansas; also low in Midwest

Arkansas has the lowest coronary drug-eluting stent (DES) penetration rate in the U.S. at 49 percent, followed closely by Montana, Utah and South Dakota, according to a report from medical market research firm Millennium Research Group.

September 27, 2009

TCT: DES are safe, effective for CTO treatment

SAN FRANCISCOAn Asian multicenter study found coronary drug-eluting stents (DES) effective for patients with chronic total occlusions (CTOs), and a low rate of acute complications. The data were presented this week at the 2009 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium.

September 25, 2009

TCT: Prasugrel costs hospitals less than clopidogrel, due to less repeat PCI

SAN FRANCISCO--For patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing PCI, treatment with prasugrel compared with clopidogrel was associated with significant cost offsetsmainly derived from reductions in repeat PCIin both the first 30 days as well as longer term treatment (median 14.7 months), based on an economic substudy of the TRITON-TIMI 38 trial presented Thursday during the late breaking clinical trials at the 2009 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) annual meeting.

September 25, 2009

TCT: FAMEs improved outcomes extend to two years

SAN FRANCISCOTwo-year follow-up of the FAME study confirmed the durability of improved outcomes at one-year for patients undergoing fractional flow reserve (FFR) prior to PCI, according to a presentation at the annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting.

September 25, 2009

Around the web

Health Imaging

Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

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

Health Imaging

New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

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

Interventional Cardiology

Cardiologists reflect on developing primary PCI in face of criticism and pushback

How TAVR valve choice impacts outcomes when treating type 1 bicuspid AS

IVUS-guided PCI reduces risks in patients with diabetes

Medtronic using AI to identify more TAVR patients in need

SAVR linked to higher 10-year survival rate than TAVR for low-risk patients

Around the web