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.

Biotronik has received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation for its Freesolve below-the-knee resorbable magnesium scaffold (BTK RMS) for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

FDA grants new resorbable scaffold for CLTI its breakthrough device designation

Biotronik's Freesolve technology, which gained CE mark approval in February, is designed to maximize blood flow and minimize the post-implantation risks of stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization.

March 18, 2024
Researchers with UVA Health in Charlottesville, Virginia, have received $2.8 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue work on a high-tech material that could boost care for hundreds of thousands of heart patients per year.

Vascular ‘paint’ for heart patients earns researchers $2.8M in funding

“Our approach is like deploying tiny guards to protect blood vessels from going bad, so that there is no need to open the body over and over again to repair them,” one specialist explained. 

March 11, 2024
Weekly doses of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor originally developed to treat diabetes, could help approximately 93 million U.S. adults lose weight and reduce their risk of adverse cardiovascular events, according to new research published in Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy. Novo Nordisk sells and markets subcutaneous treatments of semaglutide 2.4 mg under the brand name Wegovy.

A big win for Wegovy: Weight loss drug semaglutide first in history to gain FDA approval for reducing heart risks

The FDA made a special announcement about its decision, describing the news as "a major advance for public health."

March 8, 2024
Nanoflex Robotics, a healthcare technology startup based out of Switzerland, has installed its remote-ready robotics system for neurovascular procedures in the United States for the first time

Swiss startup targets stroke patients with first US install of robotics system for remote vascular interventions

The new-look robotics system can help specialists perform remote mechanical thrombectomies from bedside or as far as thousands of miles away. 

March 8, 2024
Patients who take diuretics, renin-angiotensin system (RAD) inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at the same time face a much higher risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI)

Some older patients taking aspirin to prevent CVD may be doing more harm than good

“Aspirin is no longer a one-size-fits-all preventive tool for older adults," according to one specialist with Michigan Medicine. 

March 7, 2024
Product Recall

FDA announces new Class I recall of drainage systems after 26 injuries

According to the agency, using these devices “may cause serious injuries or death.”

March 7, 2024
Marijuana use among older adults is associated with a heightened risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, according to new research published in the American Journal of Cardiology. “Marijuana use increases sympathetic nervous system activity and inhibits cardiac parasympathetic innervation, resulting in elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and an increase in myocardial oxygen demand.

‘Just like smoking tobacco’: Cannabis use increases stroke risk by 42%, heart attack risk by 25%

“It can be a challenging discussion to have with patients because there is evidence that cannabis has some therapeutic properties," one researcher said. "However, as suggested by this study, cannabis use also has significant cardiovascular risks.”  

March 4, 2024
Gen 2 Aria CV Pulmonary Hypertension System implanted in patient for first time.

World’s first patient treated with new implantable device for pulmonary hypertension

The procedure, performed on Feb. 14, was part of an early feasibility trial developed with help from the FDA.

February 29, 2024

Around the web

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

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."

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