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.

Example of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) shown as part of the multimodality imaging capability on the Fujifilm CVIS.

IVUS-guided PCI boosts 2-year survival, reduces need for bypass surgery

IVUS was especially effective when treating patients with a complex coronary anatomy, researchers found. 

TAVR patients with cancer face higher risks of hospital readmission, serious bleeding

Short-term mortality, however, does not appear to change when TAVR patients present with active cancer. 

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IVL gains higher level of reimbursement with one of biggest coding updates for PCI in decades

Intravascular lithotripsy therapy to break up calcified coronary lesions will now be reimbursed at a higher rate under new in-hospital codes the went into effect Oct. 1.

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‘More dangerous than useful’: 1 in 5 coronary stents implanted by cardiologists are unnecessary, wasting $800M per year

A cardiologist-led think tank tracked data from more than 1 million procedures, exploring the clinical and economic impacts of implanting low-value coronary stents. 

Robert Yeh, MD, explains the details of the AGENT IDE trial clinical trial results for the Agent drug-coated balloon vs plain angioplasty for in-stent restenosis at TCT 2023. #TCT #TCT2023 #DCB

Coronary drug-coated balloon superior to standard of care for in-stent restenosis

Robert Yeh, MD, detailed the importance of the pivotal AGENT IDE trial, which focused on the use of a paclitaxel-coated balloon to treat in-stent restenosis. 

Video of Michael Reardon, MD, explaining details from the Evolute Low Risk 4-year results at TCT 2023.

TAVR triumphs over surgery: Exploring 4-year data from the Evolut Low Risk trial

Michael Reardon, MD, discussed his team's late-breaking results at TCT 2023 in San Francisco. 

HeartPoint Global Shark Tank Intellistent

New pediatric interventional device for PAH wins ‘Shark Tank’ event at TCT 2023

The first-place finish earned HeartPoint Global $20,000 in prize money. 

TCT 2023 late-breaking clinical trials

Late-breaking clinical trials at TCT 2023 could lead to FDA approvals for Abbott, Boston Scientific

Will a coronary drug-coated balloon finally gain full approval from the FDA? New data presented at TCT 2023 seems to suggest it just might happen.  

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.