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.

Thumbnail

FDA advisory: Magnets in cell phones, smart watches can affect implanted medical devices

Though this does not seem to be a significant issue, the agency still recommends keeping consumer electronics at least six inches away from implanted medical devices.

Thumbnail

Smile for the camera: Cardiologists around the world performing live procedures for charity

The global event, now in its second year, is raising money for Doctors Without Borders. 

Thumbnail

When TEER fails, most patients require mitral valve replacement

The team's findings were presented at the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

SCAI 2021: Harmony TPV could ‘fundamentally alter’ care for patients with congenital heart disease

Overall, one-year findings showed that there were no instances of mortality, endocarditis, major stent fractures or surgical intervention among patients who received the Harmony TPV.

AI-powered coronary imaging platform gains CE mark approval

The platform was designed to assist clinicians during percutaneous coronary intervention and other interventional procedures. 

Thumbnail

SCAI 2021: Robotic-assisted PCI associated with strong patient outcomes, a high technical success rate

The procedure's clinical success rate was 97.8%, researchers reported. 

SCAI 2021: COVID-19 especially harmful for high-risk heart attack patients

Researchers presented new data from the North American COVID-19 Myocardial Infarction registry, detailing the ongoing pandemic's "deadly impact." 

Thumbnail

SCAI unveils new cath lab guidelines at annual meeting

The new guidelines were endorsed by the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Heart Rhythm Society and Clinical Policy Approval Committee.

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.