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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Better Together? An Integrated Market for Calcium-modification Strategies

Rather than a binary choice—atherectomy or lithotripsy—the market for treating severely calcified lesions seems likely to evolve into a mixture of both technologies. That, in fact, is already occurring. One strategy gaining currency among interventionalists, particularly those in Europe, is to try a high-pressure balloon first in cases of moderately severe calcification and, if the device fails to fully expand, re-enter the vessel with atherectomy. 

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For elderly patients with complex CAD, PCI and CABG lead to comparable long-term outcomes

PCI may be seen as a "reasonable alternative to CABG" for many elderly patients, the research team observed. 

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Interventional cardiologists back prior authorization bill, call current policies ‘costly' and ‘time consuming’

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is the latest industry organization to show its support of the new legislation. 

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Cancer patients after PCI: Key statistics every cardiologist should know

Researchers examined data from nearly 1,200 PCI patients, sharing their findings in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Radial access outperforms femoral access for complex PCI, but questions persist

The findings could represent a significant change in patient care, specialists wrote, but "femoral believers" may not be swayed until additional data can be reviewed. 

When STEMI patients present late, immediate and delayed PCI lead to similar outcomes

Exploring data from nearly 6,000 STEMI patients, the study's authors aimed to learn more about the impact of immediate vs. delayed PCI. 

Elective revascularization with PCI or CABG provides long-term cardiovascular benefits, new meta-analysis confirms

Researchers evaluated data from 25 different randomized clinical trials, sharing their findings virtually at EuroPCR 2021. 

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Significant MR after TAVR linked to higher mortality rates—but staged interventions may help

Percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair was associated with improved outcomes among TAVR patients with persistent mitral regurgitation. 

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