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.

PCI

P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after PCI similar to prolonged DAPT, new 3-year analysis confirms

Researchers have shared an updated analysis of the SMART-CHOICE study, focusing on major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events—as well as bleeding events—among PCI patients after three years. 

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Preventing AKI after TAVR may help lessen the impact of chronic kidney disease

If researchers can find ways to prevent AKI after TAVR, it could help decrease the risk of poor outcomes in more ways than one. 

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

Earlier interventions may boost survival when TAVR patients experience a stroke

New research in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions suggests improved collaborations between cardiologists and neurologists could help TAVR patients live longer after a periprocedural stroke. 

Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

Impella heart pumps boost survival up to 81% for cardiogenic shock patients

The heart pumps appear to provide significant benefits for patients with acute myocardial infarction- or myocarditis-related cardiogenic shock. 

Example of QFR technology, which uses a rotation of the C-arm around the patient to create a 3D model and a color coded map showing the FFR values and drops in blood flow.

FFR-angiography guided lesion selection for PCI improves two-year outcomes in TCT late-breaker

Two-year outcomes of a QFR-guided vessel and lesion selection strategy showed that the benefits of QFR guidance continued to accrue over time compared with standard angiography guidance in patients undergoing PCI.

Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

Regulatory Roundup: FDA clears AI model for RV/LV ratios, approves calcium-blocking TAVR valve and much more

Read our review of some of the biggest FDA-related stories that have hit cardiology in the last month, including news from Viz.ai, Edwards Lifesciences, Abiomed and Medtronic. 

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) Shockwave Medical PCI PAD CAD Disrupt PAD Disrupt CAD SCAI 2022

Is IVL equally effective in male and female patients? Shockwave Medical aims to find out with a historic new study

Shockwave announced at TCT 2022 that it hopes to enroll up to 400 patients for a new all-female clinical trial.

Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) is associated with “promising” short-term outcomes among patients with a history of cancer, according to new research published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

MitraClip and TriClip TEER devices continue to show positive results

Two late-breaking studies at the 2022 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting provided positive data for Abbott's MitraClip transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) device and the TriClip for transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVR).

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.