Vascular & Endovascular

This channel includes news on non-coronary vascular disease and therapies. These include peripheral artery disease (PAD), abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm (AAA and TAA), aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism (PE), critical limb ischemia (CLI), carotid artery and stroke interventions, venous interventions, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and interventional radiology therapies. The focus on most of these therapies is minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures performed in a cath lab.

Boston Scientific recalls premixed embolic agent after two deaths
There have been a total of 11 incidents so far, including seven injuries and two deaths. Boston Scientific said the agent can still be used if operators follow specific instructions during lower GI bleed embolization procedures.
Anemia may help explain why women are more likely to die during heart bypass surgery
Finding new ways to avoid intraoperative anemia could go a long way toward improving outcomes for female CABG patients. The full analysis, based on more than 1.4 million patients, was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
FDA grants anticoagulant its orphan drug designation for treating patients with implanted devices
The anticoagulant was originally developed for patients with end-stage renal disease and atrial fibrillation.
FDA announces new recall of neurovascular catheters built by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary
The recall is due to ongoing concerns about the devices breaking. Three patients have been injured as a result of this issue.
GE Healthcare launching new AI software for handheld ultrasound system
The company's new AI offering, a product of its 2023 acquisition of Caption Health, will make its debut at ACC.24 in Atlanta.

Statin, antiplatelet prescriptions lag for PAD patients at risk of stroke

Heart patients with symptoms of peripheral artery disease (PAD) continue to see low rates of prescriptions for antiplatelets, statins and ACE inhibitors, despite those drugs’ potential to prevent against major events like stroke, according to research published Nov. 15 in Stroke.

November 16, 2018

Severe migraines could signal elevated risk for AFib, stroke

A decades-long study of patients who have migraines with visual aura has linked the painful headaches to an increased risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation and, to a lesser degree, stroke, researchers report in the online edition of Neurology.

November 15, 2018

Algorithm leans on patient-reported variables to predict mortality

A machine learning algorithm that predicts five-year mortality among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) makes the case that patient responses to questionnaires can be just as informative in risk stratification as clinical characteristics and lab measurements.

November 12, 2018

How Snapchat saved a stroke patient’s life with 12 minutes to spare

Social media app Snapchat has been credited with saving 39-year-old Darnisha Ladd’s life after a recorded video helped physicians diagnose the young stroke survivor, allowing them to administer life-saving medication with 12 minutes to spare, the Omaha World-Herald has reported.

November 9, 2018

DOACs cut dementia risk in AFib patients more than warfarin

For patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AFib), taking a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) instead of warfarin may cut the risk of dementia by 15 to 20 percent, according to a large database study published Nov. 2 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

November 8, 2018

New Data Continue to Reinforce IN.PACT Admiral DCB as a Durable, Frontline Option to Address Treatment Challenges in PAD

Medtronic data presented today reinforce the durability, safety, and effectiveness of the IN.PACT Admiral drug-coated balloon (DCB) in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral (SFA) and popliteal arteries.

November 6, 2018

The Eluvia drug-eluting stent continues to demonstrate positive outcomes in long lesion IMPERIAL sub-study

Boston Scientific announced clinical outcomes from the IMPERIAL Long Lesion Sub-study demonstrating that the Eluvia Drug-Eluting Vascular Stent System is safe and effective in treating patients with long, complex, calcified lesions within the superficial femoral and proximal popliteal arteries.

November 6, 2018

FDA issues Class I recall for warfarin test strips after patient strokes

The FDA has announced a Class I recall for 1.1 million packages of CoaguChek XS PT test strips used with point-of-care or in-home devices to adjust warfarin dosing.

November 5, 2018

Around the web

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New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

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What does radiology have to do with climate change?

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Vascular & Endovascular

Boston Scientific recalls premixed embolic agent after two deaths

Anemia may help explain why women are more likely to die during heart bypass surgery

FDA grants anticoagulant its orphan drug designation for treating patients with implanted devices

FDA announces new recall of neurovascular catheters built by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary

GE Healthcare launching new AI software for handheld ultrasound system

Around the web