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.

Banner ASC in Sun City, Arizona.

Low doses of radiation still increase risk of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma

A new study found cumulative radiation exposure of 16 mSv to red bone marrow can cause an increased rate of some hematological malignancies.

Banner ASC in Sun City, Arizona.

Women urged to overcome radiation fears, consider a career in interventional cardiology

"The underrepresentation of women in interventional cardiology is a significant concern," according to one cardiologist behind the new campaign. 

Royal Philips has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its new 160-cm LumiGuide endovascular navigation wire, which uses the company’s popular Fiber Optic RealShape (FORS) technology to deliver real-time 3D visualization without the use of fluoroscopy.

FDA approves longer LumiGuide 3D navigation wire from Philips

The newly approved device comes in at 160 cm. Like the shorter LumiGuide device from Philips, it was designed to deliver real-time 3D visualization with light instead of X-rays. 

IVUS Intravascular Ultrasound ACC

Intravascular imaging during PCI: Should cardiologists choose IVUS or OCT?

Which modality should care teams choose for PCI guidance? While there's an argument to be made for choosing IVUS over OCT, some specialists think the two treatment options are close to equal in terms of patient outcomes. 

SpectraWAVE, a Massachusetts-based imaging company focused on treatments for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), has closed a $50 million funding round. Johnson & Johnson Innovation led the round, and other participants included S3 Ventures, Lumira Ventures, SV Health Investors, Deerfield Management, NovaVenture and Heartwork Capital.

SpectraWAVE raises $50M for FDA-cleared intravascular imaging technology

The funds, including a significant investment from Johnson & Johnson, are expected to go toward expanding access to the company's HyperVue Imaging System and exploring new features.

Map of Congressional districts and the rate of amputations based on medicare data showing Mississippi delta region with the highest number of amputation procedures per year. Dr. Fakorede located his practice there to try and combat extremely the high PAD and CLI rates.

PAD is a public health crisis say cardiovascular societies

September is peripheral artery disease (PAD) awareness month, and medical societies are using it to promote awareness for patients and referring physicians to act against the debilitating disease.
 

OCT-guided PCI, or optical coherence tomography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention.

OCT-guided PCI boosts outcomes when treating complex lesions

When PCI patients present with complex lesions, optical coherence tomography may provide significant value.

Images coronary calcium imaging by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and high-definition intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

OCT-guided PCI improves survival after life-threatening heart attacks

Researchers explored data from nearly 4,000 STEMI patients, noting that optical coherence tomography may be a valuable first step of any treatment strategy. 

Around the web

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.

The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer. 

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