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.

Alfred G. Valles, MD, an interventional cardiologist being remembered by colleagues after a tragic accident

Cardiologist and wife killed in car accident—colleagues say he ‘represented the very best in medicine’

Interventional cardiologist Alfred G. Valles, MD, was 50 years old at the time of the accident. According to colleagues, he "strived daily to achieve his vision for world-class care."

A late-breaking science presentation at the annual TCT interventional cardiology meeting.

Late-breaking clinical trials at TCT 2023

Here is a list of all the late-breaking clinical trials being presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2023 annual meeting Oct. 23-26, 2023, in San Francisco.

ACC President Hadley Wilson, MD, explained the impact of 4 key ESC 2023 IVUS and OCT intravascular imaging trials and wht thaey will l;ikely influence PCI guidelines. #ESC ESC23 #ESC2023 #ACC

Intravascular imaging for PCI gets a big boost from recent studies

ACC President Hadley Wilson, MD, explains the big impact four late-breaking studies on intravascular imaging may have on revising PCI guidelines.

Medtronic's Evolut FX TAVR valve, designed with 3 golden markers that improve alignment

Medtronic receives CE mark approval for Evolut FX TAVR system

The self-expanding valve, already approved by the FDA, was designed with three gold markers to boost implanter efficiency, an updated catheter tip and a more flexible delivery system.

Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

FDA warns Abiomed about ‘significant violations’ related to its Impella heart pumps

The agency said Abiomed did not seek the necessary approvals for one Impella-related device and was slow to act on certain safety concerns. 

Does X still mark the spot for cardiologists? The risks and benefits of using Twitter in 2023 and beyond

Should interventional cardiologists be using X, the website formerly known as Twitter? A team of specialists explored that very question, sharing its assessment in JSCAI.

The SavvyWire TAVR guidewire by OpSens / Haemonetics

Haemonetics to acquire medical device company known for its TAVR guidewires for $253M

Haemonetics expects the deal to increase its short- and long-term revenue. The all-cash transaction should close by January 2024.

The Pioneer TAVR system from KOKA Lifesciences

New TAVR system for pure aortic regurgitation used for first time, linked to ‘excellent’ short-term outcomes

Researchers explored data from the first 10 patients treated with a new self-expanding TAVR device from KOKA Lifesciences. After 30 days, there were no patient deaths and only one adverse event.

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.