Department of Interventional Cardiology @ Ospedale San Raffaele

The Interventional Cardiology Unit is specialised in the treatment of complex coronary artery disease with latest generation drug-eluting stents, drug eluting balloons and adjunctive imaging (IVUS and OCT) and functional (FFR, QFR, RFR) technologies, and in the transcatheter treatment of valvular and structural heart diseases. Moreover, the unit deals with congenital adult cardiac defects.

San Raffaele’s Interventional Cardiology Unit is a high-volume centre with 3 Cath labs and 24h service for emergencies, performing more than 1,200 Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI), 270 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantations (TAVI) and other complex coronary and structural procedures each year.

The unit constantly takes part in sponsored and investigator driven research projects and clinical trials (pre-CE mark and post marketing/observational and/or randomised) in treatment of coronary artery, valve and structural heart diseases.
In addition, the unit, in collaboration with the Vita – Salute San Raffaele University, is hosting a second level University Master’s Degree in Interventional Cardiology. The course is open to EU and non-EU physicians. They are exposed to hands on training activities and to innovative clinical research projects, always tutored by a senior staff physician. The unit is also involved in teaching activities and preparation of thesis for medical students, cardiology residents from the Vita – Salute San Raffaele University, and research fellows.

• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
• Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)
• Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)
• Quantitative Flow Ratio (QFR)
• Percutaneous Left and Right Ventricular Assist Devices, microaxial miniaturized pumps, Impella, and intra aortic ballon pump