The Discipline
From the Latin word intervenire, “to come between,” Interventional Cardiology is the branch of Cardiology responsible for catheter-based interventions in the management of ischemic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and acquired valvular disease.
Procedures
Important procedural skills include coronary artery catheterization, angioplasty, intra-coronary thombolysis, valvuloplasty, coronary artery stent placement, and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.
Training
Interventional Cardiology fellowship training requires 12 months of accredited training beyond three years of general cardiology training.
Training Positions
For the 2015-2016 academic year, there were 144 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited programs in Interventional Cardiology with 313 active training positions.
Certification
The American Board of Internal Medicine offers certification in Interventional Cardiology.
Major Professional Society
Major Publication
Back to June 2016 Issue of IMpact