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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High profits, consistent growth: Shockwave Medical seen as a ‘must-buy’ stock

Shockwave and two other healthcare companies in the cardiovascular health space are considered attractive options for investors looking to expand their portfolios. 

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Bleeding events after TAVR: An updated look at a serious side effect

Researchers explored data from more than 2,300 patients, categorizing all bleeding events based on updated VARC-3 definitions. The team's final analysis was published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Confirmed: Redo TAVR with balloon-expandable valves is safe and effective

The study, based on STS/ACC registry data, represents a collaboration between several leading TAVR specialists. 

VIDEO of Prof. Steen Kristensen explaining key trials and news from ESC 2023. #ESC #ESCcongress #ESC2023 ESCcongress2023

Key takeaways from ESC Congress 2023

Steen Dalby Kristensen, a cardiologist with Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, detailed some of the hottest topics at the European Society of Cardiology's annual meeting. 

PCI

Immediate vs. staged multivessel PCI: How the 2 strategies compare when treating STEMI patients

Researchers explored data from more than 400 STEMI patients, presenting their work at ESC Congress 2023 and publishing it in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Pulsed-field ablation as safe and effective as thermal ablation when treating paroxysmal AFib

Boston Scientific, which funded the study, hopes these results can help the company gain FDA approval for its PFA device in the months ahead. 

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

Intravascular imaging-guided PCI improves patient outcomes, new meta-analysis confirms

The ILUMIEN IV and OCTOBER trials helped illustrate that the benefits of intravascular ultrasound also are seen with optical coherence tomography. Both trials were included in the new meta-analysis presented at ESC Congress 2023.

Recor Medical's Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation System

FDA panel votes in favor of Recor Medical renal denervation system

A few members of the panel did question the device's efficacy and long-term durability. The FDA will now use these findings to make its final decision related to the system's approval. 

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.