The Discipline
Interventional Cardiology represents advanced training in cardiovascular disease and focuses on the invasive (usually catheter-based) management of heart disease.
Clinical issues usually managed by interventional cardiologists include:
- Ischemic heart disease (percutaneous coronary intervention (angioplasty), stent placement, coronary thrombectomy)
- Valve disease (valvuloplasty, percutaneous valve repair or replacement)
- Congenital heart abnormalities (repair of atrial and ventricular septal defects, closure of patent ductus arteriosus, angioplasty of the great vessels)
Interventional cardiologists typically practice in cardiology group practices and in medical institutions in which these types of procedures are performed.
Training
Interventional cardiologists must complete an additional year of training beyond a general internal medicine residency and fellowship in cardiovascular disease; this training is most commonly done immediately following a cardiovascular disease fellowship. Following completion, Interventional Cardiology fellows are eligible for board certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Training Positions
In the 2017-2018 academic year, there are 151 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited training programs in Interventional Cardiology with 320 trainees.
Major Professional Society
- Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
Back to the March 2018 issue of ACP IMpact