BackTable Vascular & Interventional

In this episode, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Peter Soukas taking a deep dive into novel balloon technologies, appropriate uses below the knee, and how these new balloons are highly effective in treating patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Dr. Soukas explains how these new balloon technologies can minimize the risk of dissections (therefore decreasing the need for bailout stents), create effective lumen gain in concentric and eccentric calcified lesions with minimal recoil, and keep pressures low compared to legacy products. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR Cagent Vascular Serranator https://www.cagentvascular.com --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Soukas is an Interventional Cardiologist who is the Founder and Director of the Brown Vascular and Endovascular Medicine Fellowship program, serves as the Director of the Interventional PV Lab at the Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute of Brown, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert School of Medicine. We begin by discussing the treatment of CLI, particularly with new below the knee balloon angioplasty devices like the Cagent Serranator and how balloon tech has evolved over time. These new technologies allow for 1000x more force than previous balloon models through unique serration technology at significantly lesser pressures, minimizing the risk of barotrauma and iatrogenic lumen dissections, while allowing for effective luminal gain, and showing success in treating CLI even when calcified lesions are present. What’s more is that there is now a variety of serration balloon lengths available, which was definitely a huge shortcoming in prior scoring balloons with limited sizing. While IVL is the preferred option in terms of treating concentric (360°) calcified lesions, new serration balloons are cheaper and show success in treating both concentric and eccentric calcified lesions with minimal recoil. Dr. Soukas and Dr. Fritts also go on to discuss how using IVUS is critical in visualizing the size, shape, and depth of possible calcifications but also important in picking the correctly sized serration-balloon to get the job done. Dr. Soukas also explains how the serration balloon technology is easily deployable, tracks very well within vasculature, and can even be used below the ankle if needed (with some pre-dilation of the lumen) stating that if the IVUS can fit, usually so can the serration balloon. To wrap up the episode we underscore how important it is to have the right tools in our toolbox to treat patients with CLI, getting as much “red gold” down to the foot as possible to avoid loss of the limb, and a few papers our listeners can check out to learn more about serration balloons (find linked in Resources below). --- RESOURCES CagentVascular.com Prospective Study of Serration Angioplasty in the Infrapopliteal Arteries Using the Serranator Device: PRELUDE BTK Study DOI: 10.1177/15266028211059917 Standard Balloon Angioplasty Versus Serranator Serration Balloon Angioplasty for the Treatment of Below-the-Knee Artery Occlusive Disease: A Single-Center Subanalysis From the PRELUDE-BTK Prospective Study DOI: 10.1177/15266028221134891 PRELUDE Prospective Study of the Serranator Device in the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Superficial Femoral and Popliteal Arteries DOI: 10.1177/1526602818820787

19 Jun 202322min

In this episode, host Dr. Bryan Hartley interviews Rishi Nayyar, co-founder and CEO of PocketHealth, the first patient-centered medical image exchange platform. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- SHOW NOTES PocketHealth is a subscription-based image sharing service that allows patients to store, access, and share their medical imaging with providers across different health systems. Rishi and his brother Harsh developed the idea for this service after realizing how antiquated and frustrating it was for patients to physically carry their CDs to different physician offices. Additionally, with the sheer volume of medical images ordered today and the cost of data storage, hospitals usually delete images after a certain period of time. First, the Nayyar brothers conducted their own market research by calling hundreds of local hospitals and clinics and asking them about their image exchange process. This process confirmed that the status quo of image exchange was a burdensome process for patients and inspired them to configure a patient-centered service. The second stage of their entrepreneurial pursuit was to figure out how the service would be paid for. The founders realized that patients were willing to pay a small subscription fee (instead of paying for CDs) to safely indefinitely store and virtually send their own and their family members’ images to healthcare providers using a link or QR code. Overtime, insurance companies have become willing to reimburse this subscription fee. This payment model allows hospitals and clinics to participate in image exchange at no cost, and has been a key factor in encouraging widespread adoption as well as enabling the growth of their enterprise image sharing business. Rishi highlights the fact that he had the advantage of being an outsider to healthcare when he first started the company, which helped him recognize issues with the current system instead of just accepting the standard processes. He shared the same perspectives as patients who were interacting with the system as non-health experts. PocketHealth’s success in the last eight years has propelled it to take on new challenges, such as patient education within radiology reports. Finally, Rishi gives advice to budding entrepreneurs. He encourages them to pick a problem that they don’t mind grinding at, since there is a large initial time and effort requirement needed to convince people to adopt their product. Additionally, the innovation journey is long, so to manage one’s psyche, it is wise to set short term achievable benchmarks and reflect on day-to-day progress. --- RESOURCES PocketHealth: https://www.pockethealth.com/

16 Jun 202357min

En este episodio de BackTable, las Dras. Gina Landinez y Ana María Fernández Martínez hablan sobre el intervencionismo musculoesquelético y las técnicas para la embolización del hombre rígido. --- SHOW NOTES La Dra. Fernández Martínez explica su trayectoria en el campo de intervencionismo musculoesquelético y la oportunidad de entrenarse en Japón. Luego entra en detalles técnicos, describiendo cómo obtiene acceso usando su microcatéter para entrar a las articulaciones que quiere tratar. Explica que estas arterias son de un calibre muy pequeño, así que necesita herramientas diferentes para los procedimientos esqueléticos. También, ella describe el efecto que tiene la embolización en las fibras nerviosas y la inflamación para restaurar la vascular normal. Adicionalmente, las doctoras explican quienes son los pacientes ideales para la embolización de un hombro rígido. Dra. Fernández Martínez distingue síntomas de un hombro rígido, como la limitación de la vida diaria y la movilidad, y hace la distinción entre esta patología y la artritis. Habla también del tiempo ideal para la embolización para optimizar los resultados y la importancia de la rehabilitación con la fisioterapia. Próximo, la doctora explica los beneficios inmediatos y a largo plazo que ve en sus pacientes. Usualmente, se pueden ver los efectos de la embolización tres meses después del procedimiento si el paciente participa en la fisioterapia, y el máximo beneficio ocurre a los seis meses. Repetición del procedimiento es posible también. Finalmente, las doctoras hablan sobre las complicaciones de la embolización, que incluyen un hematoma en la zona de punción. Dra. Fernandez Martinez termina el episodio alentando a sus colegas radiólogos intervencionistas a explorar la embolización musculoesquelética.

14 Jun 202346min

In this episode, host Dr. Ally Baheti interviews Jill Sommerset and Dr. Fadi Saab about EVUS and IVUS in peripheral arterial cases, including when to use each, how to train an interventional sonographer, and what adding ultrasound in a case can do for patient safety. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Philips Image Guided Therapy Devices Academy https://resource.philipseliiteacademy.com Philips SymphonySuite https://www.philips.com/symphonysuite --- SHOW NOTES Jill Sommerset is the director of ultrasound at Advanced Vascular in Portland, OR and Hope Clinical Innovation Center in Houston, TX, and chair of the SVU annual conference. Dr. Fadi Saab is an interventional cardiologist and associate professor at Michigan State University. He begins by introducing what intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and extravascular ultrasound (EVUS) are. EVUS is looking from the outside in, and can be used to measure vessel width, hemodynamics, and cross chronic total occlusions (CTOs). IVUS is looking from inside a vessel towards the outside of the body, and can be helpful for viewing the extent of arterial disease and discerning the exact plaque anatomy. Dr. Saab always has a specially trained interventional sonographer involved in the case and in the room for critical limb ischemia (CLI) cases. He values them not only for obtaining access, but also to provide greater safety to the patient. He considers them a core member of the team. He notes the importance of training an ultrasonographer who is good when working under pressure, can interact with multiple personality types, and most importantly, someone willing to learn, be engaged in the case, and willing to put themselves out there in this foreign environment. Jill says it took her around 4 months to feel comfortable working in the cath lab, and for other members of the team to get used to her presence during cases. She describes her work as a dance with the physician. When a wire or catheter is being exchanged, Jill is always scanning and thinking ahead, and she is always ready to check for dissections after balloon angioplasty. Most arterial cases can benefit from the addition of EVUS. Jill says the only time EVUS is not as helpful is when the CTO cap morphology shows a rock hard plaque that casts shadows on the screen. Dr. Saab says he uses EVUS for crossing CTOs, patient safety, and looking at complications. He usually introduces IVUS after he crosses a lesion to look at plaque in a more granular way and understand it’s anatomy. Jill adds that she uses IVUS to help the physician cross a CTO sometimes, but notes that it is important for the tech to hold the probe still and not move in this scenario. The two end by restating the value that EVUS and IVUS add to the procedure, especially because angiography misses a lot of plaque burden that can be seen with IVUS. They recommend finding ultrasonographers interested in working in the cath lab, and taking the responsibility as physicians to mentor them and make them feel like an invaluable member of the treatment team. --- RESOURCES CTOP Paper: https://assets.bmctoday.net/evtoday/pdfs/et0518_F5_Saab.pdf

12 Jun 202355min

In this episode, guest host Dr. Isabel Newton interviews Dr. Richard Saxon about his innovative approach of using stent grafts for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS), the creation of the Viatorr endoprosthesis, and medical ethics of experimental technology. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Philips Image Guided Therapy Devices Academy https://resource.philipseliiteacademy.com Boston Scientific Nextlab https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/nextlab.html?utm_source=oth_site&utm_medium=native&utm_campaign=pi-at-us-nextlab-hci&utm_content=n-backtable-n-backtable_site_nextlab_1_2023&cid=n10013202 --- SHOW NOTES As an IR fellow, Dr. Saxon was surrounded by constant innovation at the Dotter Institute. He saw the takeoff of TIPS as a last treatment option for patients with liver failure, who were suffering from major variceal bleeding. He recounts the early days of TIPS as extremely technically challenging and arduous, since the methods and devices had not yet been refined. Dr. Saxon spent a significant amount of time performing TIPS revision procedures, which led him to explore the underlying pathology of biliary duct injury and subsequent stent thrombosis. These experiences led him to develop a stent graft for TIPS, which was first tested in swine models and eventually became the Viatorr endoprosthesis. Dr. Saxon highlights the supportive people and environment at the Dotter Institute as a major factor in fueling TIPS improvement. Additionally, during this era, innovative ideas were able to flourish with less influence of medical-legal or intellectual property disputes. In today’s clinical setting, TIPS has become a good option for patients with intractable variceal bleeding, but it is no longer the only option. Dr. Newton emphasizes that patient selection is a crucial part of ensuring that IRs continue to practice safely and effectively. The doctors discuss hepatic encephalopathy, another complication of TIPS that requires careful patient screening, adequate follow up, and collaboration with the medicine side of liver disease treatment. Finally, Dr. Saxon reflects on his career in translational research. A large part of his success has come from recognizing where his passions lie, what his current work environment can support, and maintaining a constant drive to improve procedures and clinical care. --- RESOURCES Gore Viatorr TIPS Endoprosthesis: https://www.goremedical.com/products/viatorr/resource-library Stent-Grafts for Revision of TIPS Stenoses and Occlusions: A Clinical Pilot Study: https://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(97)70606-7/fulltext Barry Uchida on the BackTable Podcast: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/122/history-of-the-tips-procedure-an-interview-with-barry-uchida

9 Jun 20231h 5min

In this episode, host Dr. Aparna Baheti interviews Dr. Bill Julien about the evolution of the outpatient based lab (OBL), its role in expanding patient access to IR care, and its relationship with other IR practice models around the country. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Boston Scientific Ranger DCB https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/medical-specialties/vascular-surgery/drug-eluting-therapies/ranger.html?utm_source=oth_site&utm_medium=native&utm_campaign=pi-at-us-de_portfolio-hci&utm_content=n-backtable-n-backtable_site_ranger_1_2023&cid=n10012340 Philips SymphonySuite https://www.philips.com/symphonysuite --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Julien is one of the initial OBL founders in the United States. In 2001, he started his current practice, South Florida Vascular Associates in an effort to practice independent IR. At this time, he struggled to get hospital privileges due to exclusive diagnostic radiology contracts, so he placed a C-arm in his office out of necessity. Eventually, he built a formal angio suite. As a result, patients enjoyed the efficiency and comfort of office based procedures, and he enjoyed physician autonomy and freedom from hospital politics. Dr. Julien notes that overtime, CMS has recognized the value of an office-based intervention and saw that IRs could practice high-quality care at a lower price point with higher patient satisfaction, leading to improved Medicare reimbursements. Since the conception of his OBL, Dr. Julien has seen practice structures change, especially with the influence of venture capital firms and the pressure to generate RVUs. Additionally, though some voices have pushed for more IR involvement in the clinical sphere, there has not been much progress made in advocating for IR hospital privileges. This is a significant barrier to independent IR practices, since some states require that an IR has hospital privileges before opening an OBL. Dr. Julien says that this dilemma is unique to IR, since other specialties, such as vascular surgery and cardiology, are not affected by exclusive contracts to the same extent. He believes that IR societies and leading voices should actively challenge the legal basis of these contracts and support interventionalists who want to stay independent. We highlight recent SIR and ACR position statements on this topic. Finally, Dr. Julien offers advice to IRs who are seeking to enter the OBL setting. He encourages them to perform and learn from as many procedures as possible, find ways to develop and maintain clinical skills, identify mentors, and ensure that their restrictive covenants are not too stringent. --- RESOURCES South Florida Vascular Associates: https://www.southfloridavascular.com/ Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society (OEIS): https://oeisweb.com/ SIR Position Statement on Exclusive Contracts: https://www.sirweb.org/globalassets/aasociety-of-interventional-radiology-home-page/practice-resources/standards_pdfs/exclusive_contracts_policy_final_approved_9-21-15.pdf ACR Position Statement on Exclusive Contracts: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/About-ACR/2022-2023-Digest-of-Council-Actions.pdf Line Monkey MD- “The IR Startup:” https://linemonkeymd.com/the-ir-startup/ Line Monkey MD- “Pseudoexclusive Radiology Contracts:” https://linemonkeymd.com/pseudoexclusive-radiology-contracts-our-downfall/#comment-2087

5 Jun 202352min

In this episode, host Dr. Aparna Baheti interviews Dr. Fritz Angle about adrenal vein sampling, including indications, workup, and his technique for accessing the right adrenal vein. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Fritz Angle is the Director of Interventional Radiology at the University of Virginia. He frequently performs adrenal vein sampling for primary hyperaldosteronism, and has developed a specific technique. The patient is usually referred from an endocrinologist or primary care doctor. The IR should review the labs to verify the aldosterone-to-renin ratio is greater than 20. Additionally, it is important to review medications and stop all potassium sparing diuretics at least two weeks before the procedure. If they haven’t had a CT scan, the IR should order one to assess the position of the right adrenal vein, the hardest to access due to its variable anatomy.  The morning of the procedure, Dr. Angle always checks a potassium level to know whether to give potassium supplements. He gets dual femoral access, so that he can obtain both non-stimulated and ACTH-stimulated samples. He obtains the sample from the left adrenal vein first. For the right side, he starts with a C2 catheter, to which he adds side holes using a biopsy needle. The left adrenal vein is almost always one vertebral body above the right renal vein, so he begins here, with the catheter pointing directly posterior. He searches around the entire back wall of the IVC by puffing contrast and rotating the catheter. He moves up and down by half a vertebral level. If he still cannot locate it, he begins looking to the left and right. When injecting, it is important to be gentle. To do this, he inserts an 014 wire through his catheter, then does a dry scan to see if the vein is pointing toward the liver or the right adrenal gland. If the vein is injected too hard, it can cause a venous infarct and adrenal insufficiency. The right adrenal vein forms an upside down Y shape. Dr. Angle draws two sets each from the right and left adrenal veins and two peripheral samples.  To interpret results, look for a cortisol of 2-3x greater (3-4x greater in stimulated samples) compared to the peripheral blood to confirm correct placement in the adrenal veins. Once you correct aldosterone levels to cortisol levels, the aldosterone-to-cortisol ratio should be about 5x greater on one side (compared to the other side) to confirm the diagnosis and lateralize the hyperaldosteronism to one side. About 2 ⁄ 3 cases lateralize, but Dr. Angle has found many patients’ symptoms are actually due to bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Finally, Dr. Angle emphasizes that this is an easy, safe procedure that all IRs should offer.

2 Jun 202336min

In this episode, host Dr. Michael Barraza interviews Dr. Stephen Hunt about building a pain practice, including his nerve ablation technique, how to obtain referrals, and why it is one of the most rewarding procedures that he does. --- SHOW NOTES We begin by discussing what caused Dr. Hunt to start building a pain service. He was treating many patients with lung cancer, and he saw so many patients toward the end of their life. What they wanted was to reduce their suffering due to pain. He saw what was being offered for them, which was opioids, but this caused them to be disconnected from their families at such an important time in their life. He knew he could offer nerve blocks and ablation, so he began educating himself. As he learned about different blocks, he adapted them to create his own technique. Pretty soon, word got out that he was doing this, and he started getting referrals from oncologists. Soon after this, thoracic surgeons and breast surgeons began referring to him for post-thoracotomy and post-mastectomy pain. Next, radiation oncologists referred their patients with radiation necrosis of the ribs, and orthopedic surgeons referred patients to him for pain from musculoskeletal metastases. For his technique, he often starts with a test block using bupivacaine and triamcinolone, which prolongs the effect of the bupivacaine and provides relief for around two weeks. For the ablation, he does the block in the same way, waits 15 minutes, and then injects ethanol to ablate the nerve. Some tips he has learned for celiac ablation are to ablate the retrocrural splanchnic nerves, because they feed into the celiac, and you will get a better result. Other areas he commonly ablates are intercostal nerves. For these, to avoid devastating paralysis from damage to the spinal cord, he always orients his needle lateral and stays at least two inches away from the spine. He advises those new in pain interventions to remember your anatomy. In radiology, we learn it all, and if you remember these nerves, you will be able to help a lot of people with their pain and decrease their suffering, making an enormous impact on someone’s quality of life. --- RESOURCES PIGI Lab: https://www.med.upenn.edu/pigilab/ Twitter: @PigiLab @md_rogue

29 Mai 202332min