Most cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients who undergo neurosurgical procedures occur within the first week post-procedure, indicating a direct correlation between length of surgery and development of lower extremity DVT. Researchers found that use of subcutaneous heparin at either 24 hours or 48 hours after procedure reduced the risk of lower extremity DVT by 43 percent, according to a study in this month's Journal of Neurology.

One-quarter of stroke patients discontinue one or more of their prescribed medications for secondary prevention within three months of a hospitalization. And several factors such as insurance, finances and older age may be the culprit, according to research from the AVAIL registry published online Aug. 9 in the Archives of Neurology.

Inferior vena cava (ICV) filters are used to counter the threat of pulmonary embolism in patients contraindicated to anticoagulation therapy. However, since 2005, the FDA has received nearly a thousand adverse event reports involving IVC filters, some leading to adverse clinical outcomes due to the device's potential to fragment and embolize in the body.

Treating stroke patients with intravenous alteplase (Activase, Genentech) beyond the accepted three-hour window is associated with a small increase in adverse events, but overall the benefits of any treatment over no treatment outweigh the risks, according to a substudy of the SITS-ISTR registry in the August edition of Lancet Neurology.

For Medicare beneficiaries with carotid artery disease, methods of treatment--carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting--vary greatly across specific regions of the U.S., according to a study published July 26 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

AngioDynamics, a developer of medical devices for  minimally-invasive treatment of cancer and peripheral vascular disease, has reported financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year, which ended May 31.

TriVascular of Santa Rosa, Calif., has closed $60 million in funding, comprised of a series C equity financing and growth capital venture debt.

Johnson & Johnson has signed a definitive agreement with Micrus Endovascular, a manufacturer of minimally invasive devices to address hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, to be acquired in a cash-for-stock exchange.