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.

Old doctor

How patient-reported physical and mental health affect coronary artery disease outcomes

Using patient-reported health scores may be able to help guide treatment decisions for patients presenting with coronary artery disease.

July 26, 2022
Example of a patient's coronary tree extracted from a cardiac CT scan. CT allows very detailed anatomical imaging and now physiological and plaque information that can be useful in pre-planning interventional procedures. Imaging from the GE Revolution Apex system at SCCT 2022.

VIDEO: CT imaging to plan coronary interventions — Interview with Jonathon Leipsic, MD

Jonathon Leipsic, MD, chairman of the Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, explains how noninvasive computed tomography angiography (CTA) can be used to aid in planning interventional cardiology procedures for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and chronic total occlusions (CTO). 

July 25, 2022
Ancora Heart AccuCinch Ventricular Restoration System heart failure FDA

Regulatory Roundup: FDA clears AI-powered Apple Watch competitor, grants breakthrough designation to new heart failure device

Ancora Heart received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation for its AccuCinch Ventricular Restoration System, a new minimally invasive transcatheter device designed for the treatment of heart failure.

July 25, 2022
Performing valve-in-valve transcatheter mitral valve replacement (ViV TMVR) with conscious sedation (CS) or monitored anesthesia care (MAC) instead of general anesthesia (GA) is safe and effective, according to new research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Using a TAVR-like minimalist approach for valve-in-valve TMVR is safe and effective, Cleveland Clinic study confirms

During valve-in-valve TMVR, patients are treated with conscious sedation or monitored anesthesia care instead of general anesthesia. This new analysis confirms that the change does not impact patient outcomes, but it was linked to a shorter length of stay.

July 21, 2022
Subclinical leaflet thrombosis after TAVR imaged by CT. The areas of clot attached to the valve leaflets appear dark. Image courtesy of Cahill et al. and JAMA Cardiology.

Subclinical leaflet thrombosis after TAVR: What we know, and still need to learn, about a challenging complication

Treating subclinical leaflet thrombosis after TAVR has been an ongoing challenge for structural heart clinicians, but recent research has gone a long way toward improving our understanding of this important topic. 

July 20, 2022
anticoagulation UNC Charlotte RNA DNA

Programmable RNA-DNA anticoagulant fibers may provide a better balance between blood clots and bleeding risks

“We can learn from nature, but we have built something that has never been introduced before,” one researcher said. 

July 19, 2022
Anita Asgar, MD, MSc, FSCAI, director, transcatheter valve therapy research at Montréal Heart Institute, discusses a textbook she co-edited with Jason Rogers, MD, on the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the mitral valve.

VIDEO: SCAI publishes free how-to textbook on TEER procedures

Anita Asgar, MD, discusses a free textbook available online she co-edited on the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the mitral valve. 

July 18, 2022
cardiologist patient heart compensation starting salary 2022 interventional cardiologist

Cardiologists earn some of healthcare’s highest starting salaries

These findings come from a new report on recruiting incentives among U.S. physicians and advanced practitioners. Interventional cardiologists earn the second highest starting salary of any specialty, with non-invasive cardiologists not far behind. 

July 18, 2022

Around the web

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

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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