Invasive vs. interventional

[The Pill Counter]

Can someone explain the difference between invasive cardiology and interventional cardiology?

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[Meeko1452]

Invasive cardiologists do basic left and right heart catheterizations for diagnostic purposes, but do not do interventions such as angioplasties/stents/rotoblades on blockages. So, when an invasive/noninterventional doc does a cath and finds a problem, he either calls one of his interventional partners into the cath lab to do an intervention, or the patient schedules another day in the cath lab with an interventional cardiologist.

When it is the invasive doc's turn to take night/weekend call, an interventional doc has to take backup call.

Intervention is one more year of fellowship, and of course, has higher compensation for the higher level of responsibility, although cardiologists of all types are paid well.

 

[The Pill Counter]

cheers, thanks for the insight.

 

[task]

One other thing....

Many interventional fellowships are turning into two year deals -- more devices, more procedures, and training in peripheral vascular intervention have made a lot of programs 2 yrs total.

 

[NuMD97]

Originally posted by Task:

•••quote:••• more devices, more procedures, and training in peripheral vascular intervention have made a lot of programs 2 yrs total. ••••...Plus three years Cards fellowship plus three years Internal Medicine residency. That's a really long haul.