New data from a head-to-head, randomised trial comparing vascular closure devices, highlights from CX Aortic Vienna 2021 (5–7 October, broadcast) and an interview with past Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) president Joseph E Bavaria (Philadelphia, USA) caught readers’ attention in October.
1. Head-to-head trial shows superiority of FemoSeal over ProGlide for peripheral interventions
Results of the randomised, prospective, multicentre STEP trial show that the FemoSeal vascular closure system (Terumo) is superior to the Perclose ProGlide suture-mediated closure system (Abbott) in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients in terms of technical success using a retrograde femoral puncture. Bahaa Nasr (Brest University Hospital, Best, France) presented the late-breaking data at Paris Vascular Insights (PVI) 2021 (21–23 October, Paris, France), concluding that FemoSeal should be used in PAD patients undergoing lower limb arterial endovascular treatment, especially if they are discharged on the same day as their surgery.
2. Sanford invents Breakthrough Device for vascular disease
An investigational device invented at Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, USA) that helps high-risk vascular disease patients has been granted a Breakthrough Device designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Patrick Kelly, a Sanford Health vascular surgeon, invented the aortic stent graft system designed to treat a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA).
“I would say that the future is incredibly bright for cardiovascular surgeons,” Joseph E Bavaria tells Vascular News. The 52nd president of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), Bavaria first studied engineering before pursuing a career in cardiovascular surgery, starting as an attending surgeon in 1993 in time to partake in the endovascular “revolution” of the mid to late 1990s. Considering the future of cardiovascular surgery, Bavaria believes that advanced technologies and techniques will open up new possibilities in treatments, but stresses that such developments must be democratised. He sees training and education as one of the biggest challenges facing cardiovascular surgery, with societies across the world not recognising the huge commitment needed to the speciality, and sees the need for a wider recognition of the pre-eminence and importance of cardiovascular disease treatment.
4. BD announces 510(k) clearance of expanded indications for the Rotarex atherectomy system
BD recently announced it has received 510(k) clearance for expanded indications from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Rotarex atherectomy system. The Rotarex atherectomy system is a rotational excisional device that is built to remove and aspirate varying lesion morphologies including plaque and thrombus in the peripheral arteries.
5. New technologies will simplify and shorten aortic surgical procedures while reducing radiation
In a session on “Reduction of radiation challenges” at CX Aortic Vienna 2021 (5–7 October, broadcast), experts highlighted new technologies with the potential to make aortic surgical procedures simpler and shorter, thereby reducing radiation exposure to patients and care teams. A presentation by Tom Carrell (Barrington, UK) on intelligent maps for surgery and an edited case by Tilo Kölbel (Hamburg, Germany) were among the programme highlights to emphasise this key message, while a Philips-sponsored satellite symposium saw early users of Fiber Optic RealShape (FORS) speak about their key experiences with this developing technology.
A retrospective study supports the use of the Wound, ischaemia, and foot infection (WIfI) classification system to predict the revascularisation benefit for diabetic patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI).
7. Open surgery remains a well-accepted option to treat challenging aortic arch
Results of a poll conducted at CX Aortic Vienna 2021 (5–7 October, broadcast) indicated that open procedures have their place in treating the hostile anatomy of the aortic arch, with 100% of voters expressing the opinion that the open elephant trunk technique should still be taught. This followed a series of presentations and edited cases on the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique.
Following the recent approval by the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) of the Treo abdominal aortic stent graft system for sale in Japan for the treatment of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), Terumo Aortic recently announced the first commercial implant of this device in Japan.
MolecuLight has announced the launch of the MolecuLightDX, a new point-of-care device model targeted at the needs of new expanding wound care market segments in the USA. The DX is an expansion of MolecuLight’s product line and compliments the MolecuLight i:X, a press release reads.
10. Next generation of aortic surgeons need open and endovascular skills
Building and maintaining expertise in both open and endovascular surgical techniques will play an important role in training the next generation of surgeons in order to optimise outcomes in patients with aortic disease. This is among the messages to have emerged from the final day of CX Aortic Vienna 2021 (5–7 October, broadcast), in which speakers discussed training in aortic procedures, as well as the need for multidisciplinary teamwork between the cardiac and vascular surgery specialties.
