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 Class I recall of nearly 2,000 catheter kits

Medical facilities and distributors have been advised to immediately discontinue the use of these devices due to a significant labeling issue. 

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‘More dangerous than useful’: 1 in 5 coronary stents implanted by cardiologists are unnecessary, wasting $800M per year

A cardiologist-led think tank tracked data from more than 1 million procedures, exploring the clinical and economic impacts of implanting low-value coronary stents. 

Ken Rosenfield, MD, Mass General Hospital, explains the impact wider CMS reimbursement for carotid artery stenting will have on patient stroke care and interventional cardiology. CAS

Q&A: Ken Rosenfield explains the impact of new reimbursement coverage for carotid stenting 

Ken Rosenfield, MD, helped spearhead the recent Medicare policy change that made carotid stenting procedures available to more patients.

CMS changes coverage policy for carotid stenting to make it more widely available

A group of interventional cardiologists, neurologists and vascular surgeons successfully petitioned Medicare to change its coverage determination for carotid stenting procedures.

Does X still mark the spot for cardiologists? The risks and benefits of using Twitter in 2023 and beyond

Should interventional cardiologists be using X, the website formerly known as Twitter? A team of specialists explored that very question, sharing its assessment in JSCAI.

Cardiologist compensation much higher at hospitals and health systems than private practices—and the gap is widening

A new 57-page report from MedAxiom explored the latest data on compensation, production, staffing and medical imaging offerings among cardiology programs in the United States. 

cardiologists going through the certification process

Q&A: A closer look at the push in cardiology for a new, independent American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine

American College of Cardiology President B. Hadley Wilson, MD, discussed why the ACC and other leading cardiology groups are so eager to create a new, independent medical board. This has been a long-term goal for many years, he said, and now it may become a reality. 

Recor Medical's Paradise Ultrasound Renal Denervation System

FDA panel votes in favor of Recor Medical renal denervation system

A few members of the panel did question the device's efficacy and long-term durability. The FDA will now use these findings to make its final decision related to the system's approval. 

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”