Management of Calcification: Rational and Technical Considerations for Intravascular Lithotripsy.

Arterial calcification (AC) is a common complication among patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). AC presents various challenges to PAD treatment including an increased likelihood of vessel rupture and dissection, and by acting as a physical barrier to drug delivery by angioplasty balloons. Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is a novel intervention that specifically targets AC by emitting sonic pressure waves that introduce microfractures in target calcified lesions to increase arterial compliance.

Optimization of duplex velocity criteria for diagnosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis: A report of the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) Vascular Testing Division Carotid Diagnostic Criteria Committee.

Diagnostic criteria to classify severity of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis vary across vascular laboratories. Consensus-based criteria, proposed by the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound in 2003 (SRUCC), have been broadly implemented but have not been adequately validated. We conducted a multicentered, retrospective correlative imaging study of duplex ultrasound versus catheter angiography for evaluation of severity of ICA stenosis.

Improving IR Ergonomics Using a Flexible C-Arm System.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a versatile flexible ceiling-mounted C-arm on active table and gantry repositioning during interventions and its effect on operator discomfort, system usability, and patient safety compared with a traditional ceiling-mounted system.

Materials And Methods: There were 100 IR procedures studied: 50 in a traditional IR system (standard group) and 50 with a novel multiaxis ceiling-mounted system (test group). FlexArm was capable of multiple gantry rotation points allowing increased access to the patient in addition to 236 cm of lateral x-ray detector travel.

Indigo Aspiration System for Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism: Results of the EXTRACT-PE Trial.

Objectives: This study sought to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Indigo aspiration system in submassive acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Background: PE treatment with thrombolytics has bleeding risks. Aspiration thrombectomy can remove thrombus without thrombolytics, but data are lacking.

Fenestrated Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

In order to offer more patients a durable endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair parallel, branched, and fenestrated grafts have been utilized. These treatments aim at increasing the quality of the proximal aortic graft landing zone by incorporating the healthy aortic neck at the renal and visceral arteries. Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair has provided a standardized and approved treatment option for patients who may otherwise not be candidates for endovascular repair.

Endovascular management of iliac aneurysmal disease with hypogastric artery preservation.

Common iliac artery aneurysms (CIAAs) pose a challenge in endovascular aneurysm repair. Aneurysm repair of CIAA traditionally requires embolization of the ipsilateral hypogastric artery (HA). Symptoms of buttock claudication and more feared complications of pelvic ischemia make HA preservation an appealing addition to aneurysm repair.

Utility of a Power Aspiration-Based Extraction Technique as an Initial and Secondary Approach in the Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Thromboembolism: Results of the Multicenter PRISM Trial.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and initial efficacy of XTRACT, a power aspiration-based extraction technique for treatment of peripheral arterial thromboembolism with the use of the Penumbra/Indigo system.

Materials And Methods: A total of 79 patients were enrolled: 39 (49.4%) underwent XTRACT as the initial therapy and 40 (50.

Techniques and Devices for Catheter-Directed Therapy in Pulmonary Embolism.

The clinical presentation of a patient with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) can be classified into 3 categories: low-risk, submassive (presence of right heart strain), and massive (hemodynamic compromise). Massive PE is associated with high morbidity or mortality and typically treated with systemic intravenous thrombolysis. Over the last 2 decades, however, catheter-directed techniques have become an increasingly popular treatment modality for patients with a contraindication to systemic thrombolysis or without clinical improvement after systemic thrombolysis.

Continuous Aspiration Mechanical Thrombectomy for the Management of Submassive Pulmonary Embolism: A Single-Center Experience.

The Indigo Mechanical Thrombectomy System (Penumbra, Inc, Alameda, California) was used to treat 6 patients with submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) and a contraindication to thrombolysis. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (58.2 mm Hg vs 43.

Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Accreditation Status of Outpatient Cerebrovascular Testing Facilities Among Medicare Beneficiaries: The VALUE Study.

Objectives: Accreditation of cerebrovascular ultrasound laboratories by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) and equivalent organizations is supported by the Joint Commission certification of stroke centers. Limited information exists on the accreditation status and geographic distribution of cerebrovascular testing facilities in the United States. Our study objectives were to identify the proportion of IAC-accredited outpatient cerebrovascular testing facilities used by Medicare beneficiaries, describe their geographic distribution, and identify variations in cerebrovascular testing procedure types and volumes by accreditation status.

Comparative Effectiveness of Carotid Artery Stenting Versus Carotid Endarterectomy Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background: Effectiveness of carotid artery stenting (CAS) relative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) among Medicare patients has not been established. We compared effectiveness of CAS versus CEA among Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods And Results: We linked Medicare data (2000-2009) to the Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Registry (2005-2008) and the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's (NCDR) Carotid Artery Revascularization and Endarterectomy Registry (2006-2008/2009).

Bleeding Risk Profile in Patients With Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease.

Purpose: To assess the bleeding risk profile using the HAS-BLED score in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: A post hoc analysis was performed using data from a series of 115 consecutive patients (mean age 72.4±11.

Technical Results of Vacuum-Assisted Thrombectomy for Arterial Clot Removal in Patients with Acute Limb Ischemia.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of a vacuum-assisted thrombectomy (VAT) catheter system for treating patients with acute limb ischemia (ALI).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study evaluated VAT systems (Penumbra, Alameda, California) in a consecutive series of 30 patients with ALI. ALI was defined as clinical symptoms within 2 weeks of presentation.

Trial of a Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease.

Background: The treatment of peripheral artery disease with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is limited by the occurrence of vessel recoil and restenosis. Drug-coated angioplasty balloons deliver antiproliferative agents directly to the artery, potentially improving vessel patency by reducing restenosis.

Methods: In this single-blind, randomized trial conducted at 54 sites, we assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, 476 patients with symptomatic intermittent claudication or ischemic pain while at rest and angiographically significant atherosclerotic lesions to angioplasty with a paclitaxel-coated balloon or to standard angioplasty.

Percutaneous Large Arterial Access Closure Techniques.

Endovascular repair has replaced open surgical repair as the standard of care for treatment of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms in appropriately selected patients owing to its decreased morbidity and length of stay and excellent clinical outcomes. Similarly, there is a progressive trend toward total percutaneous repair of the femoral artery using percutaneous suture-mediated closure devices over open surgical repair due to decreased complications and procedure time. This article describes the techniques of closure for large-bore vascular access most commonly used in endovascular treatment of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, but could similarly be applied to any procedure requiring large-bore arterial access, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

The Effect of Realtime Monitoring on Dose Exposure to Staff Within an Interventional Radiology Setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new device providing real-time monitoring on radiation exposure during fluoroscopy procedures intending to reduce radiation in an interventional radiology setting.

Materials And Methods: In one interventional suite, a new system providing a real-time radiation dose display and five individual wireless dosimeters were installed. The five dosimeters were worn by the attending, fellow, nurse, technician, and anesthesiologist for every procedure taking place in that suite.

Noninvasive Testing in Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Most patients suspected of having peripheral arterial disease should undergo noninvasive vascular testing to confirm the diagnosis, and to determine the severity and extent of the disease. This article reviews practical aspects of commonly used noninvasive tests for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, including the ankle-brachial index, segmental limb pressures, pulse volume recordings, duplex ultrasonography, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography.

Accreditation status and geographic location of outpatient vascular testing facilities among Medicare beneficiaries: the VALUE (Vascular Accreditation, Location & Utilization Evaluation) study.

Objective: There is limited information on the accreditation status and geographic distribution of vascular testing facilities in the US. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provide reimbursement to facilities regardless of accreditation status. The aims were to: (1) identify the proportion of Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) accredited vascular testing facilities in a 5% random national sample of Medicare beneficiaries receiving outpatient vascular testing services; (2) describe the geographic distribution of these facilities.

Ultrasound-accelerated versus standard catheter-directed thrombolysis in 102 patients with acute and subacute limb ischemia.

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis (UAT) and standard catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) in patients with acute and subacute limb ischemia.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of all patients treated with thrombolysis for acute and subacute limb ischemia between August 2005 and January 2012 were reviewed. Coprimary (increase in ankle-brachial index, degree of lysis) and secondary endpoints (technical success, distal embolization, bleeding complications, need for additional interventions) were assessed.