November’s top 10 features a large-scale analysis of Philips’ intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in lower extremity peripheral vascular interventions, five-year data on Avenu Medical/Medtronic’s Ellipsys vascular access system, and highlights from the 2021 VEITHsymposium (16–20 November, Orlando, USA).
Royal Philips announced the results of a new large-scale, real-world analysis of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on the health outcomes of peripheral vascular interventions guided by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
2. Benefits of percutaneous fistula creation further bolstered by five-year Ellipsys data
The Ellipsys vascular access system (Avenu Medical/Medtronic) can be used to easily and safely create durable percutaneous arteriovenous fistulas (pAVFs) for haemodialysis—with new, long-term data suggesting it offers an “excellent alternative” to AVF creation via surgical procedures in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. That is according to Jeffrey Hull, an interventional radiologist and director of the Richmond Vascular Institute in Richmond, USA, who presented five-year results from the Ellipsys US pivotal trial at this year’s American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week (2–7 November 2021, virtual).
3. Experts launch ‘Masters of Circulation’ podcast
A trio of specialists in vascular surgery and interventional radiology recently launched a new podcast—‘Masters of Circulation’—with the aim of interviewing pioneers and leaders in the field of vascular intervention.
4. Endologix names Matthew Thompson president and CEO
Endologix has announced the appointment of Matthew Thompson as president and chief executive officer. Thompson will also join Endologix’s board of directors. Richard Mott, who previously held the CEO position on an interim basis, will return to his role as executive chairman of the board of directors.
5. Researchers create novel solution for automatic measurement of maximum aortic diameter
Marie Lannelongue Hospital of Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital Group (Paris, France) and Incepto, a European specialist in artificial intelligence (AI) applied to the medical field, recently announced the creation of ARVA (Augmented radiology for vascular aneurysm), a novel solution for automatic measurement of the maximum diameter of the aorta.
“I think this represents the beginning of the end of an era where we have to use lead to perform these procedures.” Those were the words delivered by Gustavo Oderich, professor and chief of vascular and endovascular surgery at UTHealth’s McGovern Medical School in Houston, USA, as he demonstrated the results of an ex vivo experiment in which the emerging Intra-Operative Positioning System (IOPS) imaging technology from Centerline Biomedical was used “totally radiation-free.”
7. Endologix announces completion of enrolment in TORUS 2 study for PAD in SFA
Endologix has completed enrolment in the TORUS 2 investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical study in the USA, a press release reports. The TORUS 2 study is a prospective, single-arm trial of 188 patients to evaluate safety and effectiveness of the Torus stent graft system in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and proximal popliteal arteries.
8. Women face increased risk of stroke and readmission after carotid interventions
A recent study has pointed to an increased risk of stroke in both asymptomatic and symptomatic female patients, as well as readmission in asymptomatic female patients following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS). These findings were published online ahead of print in the Journal of Vascular Surgery (JVS).
9. CMS increases hospital outpatient payment for peripheral intravascular lithotripsy
Shockwave Medical has announced that, as part of the calendar year 2022 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has reassigned the payment for peripheral intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) procedures performed on above-the-knee (ATK) arteries in the hospital outpatient setting. The resulting payment increases will become effective 1 January 2022.
10. VEITH 2021: Two-year follow-up data from EVAS2 IDE study delivered
The confirmatory EVAS2 clinical study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Nellix endovascular aneurysm sealing system (EVAS; Endologix) for the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) contains positive two-year follow-up data, the leading investigator has revealed.
