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.

FDA announces another recall for surgical devices over safety concerns—7 new injuries reported

Maquet Cardiovascular, a subsidiary of Getinge, is recalling two of its endoscopic vessel harvesting devices due to issues with different pieces bending, peeling or detaching during use. Some of the company's other EVH devices were recently involved in a separate recall for similar reasons. 

Recor Medical's Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation System

Momentum continues for renal denervation as CMS considers national Medicare coverage

CMS is accepting public comments on the topic for a period of 30 days. Recor Medical and Medtronic have both shared statements in support of the potential policy shift.

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Boston Scientific enters IVL arms race with acquisition worth up to $664M

Boston Scientific has agreed to acquire Bolt Medical, a California-based medical device company focused on developing new intravascular lithotripsy technologies. The news comes less than one year after Johnson & Johnson acquired IVL pioneers Shockwave Medical for $13 billion.

Charles E. Mullins, MD, a U.S. Army veteran known as a legend of interventional pediatric cardiology, died Nov. 17. He was 92 years old.

Charles E. Mullins remembered as a pioneer of interventional pediatric cardiology

Charles E. Mullins, MD, a U.S. Army veteran who went on to practice medicine for five decades, died at the age of 92. SCAI shared a loving tribute to Mullins, calling him the "father of modern interventional pediatric cardiology."

SCAI celebrated William W. O'Neill, MD, and Cindy L. Grines, MD, two veteran interventional cardiologists who played key roles guiding the development of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) as a treatment for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

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."

artificial intelligence AI heart cardiology

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.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Cardiologist demand is on the rise—can hospitals keep up?

Demand for inpatient and outpatient cardiology services is expected to increase significantly in the next decade, putting hospitals and health systems in a position where they need to plan ahead or risk falling behind. 

cardiologist salary and compensation data

Cardiologist compensation still rising, especially in invasive and interventional cardiology

Updated compensation data includes good news for multiple subspecialties. The new report also examines private equity's impact on employment models and how much male cardiologists earn compared to females.

Around the web

A string of executive orders from the White House created serious concerns among radiologists and other healthcare providers throughout the United States. The American College of Radiology issued a statement to help guide its members through the chaos. 

Bridgefield Capital, founded in 2015, has previously invested in such popular brands as Cirque Du Soleil, Del Monte and Quiksilver. This transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. 

Given the precarious excitement of the moment—or is it exciting precarity?—policymakers and healthcare leaders must set directives guiding not only what to do with AI but also when to do it.