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.

Cardiologists reflect on developing primary PCI in face of criticism and pushback
SCAI celebrated cardiologists William W. O'Neill, MD, and Cindy L. Grines, MD, for the important roles they played in the development of primary PCI. “It was challenging,” Grines explained. “We had the pharmaceutical industry that was anti-primary angioplasty and we had a lot of our own colleagues that were anti-primary angioplasty."
How TAVR valve choice impacts outcomes when treating type 1 bicuspid AS
Self-expanding and balloon-expandable TAVR valves are associated with comparable success rates and one-year outcomes when treating type 1 bicuspid aortic stenosis. However, each valve type comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
IVUS-guided PCI reduces risks in patients with diabetes
PCI can be more challenging in high-risk patients presenting with diabetes and ACS. IVUS guidance was associated with improved outcomes among these patients compared to angiography guidance alone.
Medtronic using AI to identify more TAVR patients in need
Medtronic has launched new research into AI's potential to identify patients with severe aortic stenosis and other worrying symptoms. The company hopes to overcome longstanding health disparities and reach individuals who may otherwise go untreated.
SAVR linked to higher 10-year survival rate than TAVR for low-risk patients
TAVR patients in this study were treated with early-generation devices that have since been updated, but researchers still believe their data are relevant to today's care teams.

Biodegradable polymer-coated DES safe, effective at 3 years

Three-year results from the BIO-RESORT trial revealed that despite significant differences in stent backbone and polymer coating, the ultrathin sirolimus-eluting stent, very-thin everolimus-eluting stent and thin-strut zotarolimus-eluting stent remained equally safe and effective through follow-up.

September 4, 2019

Complete revascularization more beneficial than culprit-only PCI after STEMI

Complete revascularization is superior to culprit-lesion-only PCI in patients with both STEMI and multivessel disease, according to results from the COMPLETE trial, published Sept. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

September 3, 2019

TBI donor hearts found viable for transplant

Using donor hearts from patients who died of traumatic brain injury might be a more viable option for transplant candidates than previously thought, according to an analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association Aug. 30.

August 30, 2019

Jewish Hospital scraps plan to suspend heart transplant program

KentuckyOne Health is nixing its month-old plan to inactivate its heart transplant program at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, instead opting to work with the University of Louisville to keep the program alive.

August 26, 2019

Simvastatin protects donor hearts against ischemic damage

A single dose of the lipid-lowerer simvastatin, delivered to an organ donor pre-heart transplant, could decrease postoperative troponin levels in transplant recipients and protect the donor heart against perioperative myocardial ischemic damage.

August 21, 2019

Pig-to-human heart transplants could be a reality in 3 years

Pig hearts injected with microRNA-199 could be suitable for human transplants within three years, according to an international group of researchers.

August 19, 2019

Off-pump CABG falls short for patients with left main disease

Compared to on-pump CABG, off-pump surgery is associated with lower rates of revascularization and a significantly increased risk of all-cause death at three years, according to an analysis of the EXCEL trial.

August 13, 2019

Motivation key to post-PCI recovery among women

The results of a Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing study suggest motivation is the key driver of adherence to secondary prevention measures among women who have CHD and have undergone PCI.

August 13, 2019

Around the web

Health Imaging

Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Health Imaging

New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

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

Interventional Cardiology

Cardiologists reflect on developing primary PCI in face of criticism and pushback

How TAVR valve choice impacts outcomes when treating type 1 bicuspid AS

IVUS-guided PCI reduces risks in patients with diabetes

Medtronic using AI to identify more TAVR patients in need

SAVR linked to higher 10-year survival rate than TAVR for low-risk patients

Around the web