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.

The Pulnovo pulmonary artery denervation catheter. In February 2021, the devices was granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) breakthrough device designation. #TCT2022 #PAH

Pulmonary artery denervation shows promise to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary artery denervation may offer a new therapy option for this difficult-to-treat population.

Medtronic launches Evolut FX TAVR system aortic stenosis

Medtronic launches Evolut FX TAVR system for severe aortic stenosis

This is the fourth device in Medtronic's Evolut TAVR platform. The self-expanding valve gained FDA approval in 2021 for the treatment of high- and low-risk patients presenting with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

The Pascal transcatheter mitral valve repair system. Similar to the latest version of the MitraClip, the Pascal can operate each leaflet independently to grasp the mitral valve leaflets. Results of the CLASP IID trial at #TCT2022.

Pascal transcatheter mitral repair device performs as well as MitraClip in late-breaking CLASP IID Trial 

Comparison between transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) devices found Pascal was non-inferior compared with MitraClip in the CLASP IID pivotal trial.

Positive data was presented on the first-generation Symplicity (left) long-term outcomes and from the Recor ultrasound renal denervation system pivotal trial at TCT 2022. #TCT #TCT2022

Renal denervation lowered blood pressure in two late-breaking TCT trials 

Results from the Medtronic SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial long-term results and the pivotal RADIANCE II trial for the Recor ultrasound renal denervation system lowered blood pressure effectively in drug-resistant patients.

Sentinel Boston Scientific PROTECTED TAVR stroke disabling stroke

TAVR embolic protection devices fail to reduce stroke risk, but some cardiologists—and a leading vendor—remain encouraged

The PROTECTED TAVR results presented at TCT 2022 resulted in a mix of reactions. For some cardiologists, the slight reduction in the risk of a disabling stroke after TAVR is a positive result. For others, it was simply not enough. 

TCT 2022 Robert Califf FDA Commissioner

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf delivers fiery speech on innovation, healthcare disparities and misinformation at TCT 2022

“The United States is essentially inventing the technology and then the rest of the world is figuring out how to use it better,” he said.

he U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted market clearance ion September 2022 for the Edwards Lifesciences Corp. Pascal Precision transcatheter valve repair system for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). It is indicated for the treatment of patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR).

FDA clears Edwards Pascal device for transcatheter mitral valve repair

This is the second FDA-cleared transcatheter repair device for the mitral valve. Data from pivotal trial comparing Pascal vs. MitraClip will be presented at TCT 2022.

A structural heart Presentation during the TVT 2022 conference. #TCT #TCT22 #TCT2022

TCT 2022 late-breaking clinical presentations announced

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) announced the 32 late-breaking studies being presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics 2022 annual meeting at in Boston, Sept. 16-19.

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.