BackTable Vascular & Interventional

In this episode, host Dr. Aparna Baheti interviews interventional radiologist Dr. Ziv Haskal about the use of glue in peripheral applications. They discuss how to prepare and inject glue for portal vein embolization, type 2 endoleaks, and Dr. Haskal’s glue bullet technique. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- SHOW NOTES Dr. Ziv Haskal talks us through the use of glue in peripheral applications. He discusses how to prepare and inject glue for portal vein embolization, how to do the same for type 2 endoleaks, and also shares his glue bullet technique. Glue is only approved for neurointerventional procedures in the US, though there are many off-label uses where glue is the superior embolic. The benefit of glue is the power it gives to the operator. By manipulating the oil to glue ratio and thus the viscosity, the operator has control of how far the glue will travel when injected which makes it a very versatile liquid embolic. Dr. Haskal commonly uses glue for portal vein, bronchial, lumbar and intercostal embolizations as well as in coagulopathic patients. Dr. Haskal advises that one of the easiest places to start using glue is portal vein embolization. To prepare glue for a procedure, Dr. Haskal separates it from the rest of the back table, and always uses new gloves and a separate set of equipment. For a portal vein embolization, Dr. Haskal runs a microcatheter paraxially alongside the safety wire and makes U-turns into portal vein branches that he is targeting. For treating renal pseudoaneurysm or for finishing a coil embolization, Dr. Haskal uses the glue bullet method, which involves loading a syringe with dextrose and only a tiny amount of glue at the top of the syringe. Regarding complications of glue, Dr. Haskal says that though many fear the glue solidifying and causing the catheter to get stuck in a vessel, the likelihood of this is near zero because the glue does not harden fast enough for this to happen. The most common complication is over embolization and downstream spillage, which can be problematic in end organ supply vessels. Finally, Dr. Haskel explains his technique for when the glue starts solidifying around the catheter which creates a glue tail catheter is drawn back. --- RESOURCES Glue for Type 2 Endoleak: https://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(18)30849-2/fulltext Global Embolization and Symposium Technologies (GEST): https://www.gestweb.org

13 Jun 202233min

Jacob Fleming interviews interventional pain specialist and former Super Bowl champion John S. Michels about his journey into the subspecialty, pathways for getting involved in interventional pain management, and his philosophy on comprehensive patient care. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/1DSmJG --- SHOW NOTES In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews interventional pain specialist and former Super Bowl champion Dr. John Michels about his journey into the subspecialty, pathways for getting involved in interventional pain management, and his philosophy on comprehensive patient care. Dr. Michels describes his first career as an NFL player with the Green Bay Packers and how it taught him to be comfortable with external pressures and delayed gratification. He recounts the knee injury that led to an early retirement from the field, as well as interactions with radiologists, surgeons, and rehabilitation specialists that got him thinking about entering the field of medicine. He ended up pursuing a diagnostic residency at Baylor University, and then an additional interventional pain fellowship at the University of California at Irvine. Throughout his training, he recognizes that there is great synergistic benefit when specialists team up to provide multidisciplinary care and teach each other different skills. For example, he refined his physical exam skills by working with a PM&R physician, and he also taught other physicians how to read imaging. Dr. Michels believes that the most gratifying part of his career is the opportunity to diagnose, treat, and follow up with patients. In his Dallas-based independent OBL, he splits his time between clinic and procedural days. He enjoys seeing the impact that his interventions have on patients, and he is committed to providing alternatives to opioid use. Dr. Michels encourages more radiologists to explore the field of interventional pain, which is now recognized as a radiology subspecialty by the American Board of Radiology. Overall, when imaging is combined with physical examination and history-taking, the patient will enjoy the benefits of better diagnosis and care. --- RESOURCES Dr. John Michel’s Website: https://www.johnmichelsmd.com/ Interventional Spine & Pain: http://www.spinedallas.com/ ABR Pain Medicine Subspecialty: https://www.theabr.org/radiation-oncology/subspecialties/pain-medicine UC Irvine Pain Fellowship: https://anesthesiology.uci.edu/education-fellowships-pain-medicine.shtml

10 Jun 202259min

Dr. David Wood, interventional radiologist and chief medical officer of Advantage IR, tells us about his experiences with geniculate artery embolization (GAE) practice building in the office-based lab (OBL). --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR Athletic Greens https://www.athleticgreens.com/backtablevi --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/oIF49Q --- SHOW NOTES In this episode, host Dr. Michael Barraza interviews Dr. David Wood, interventional radiologist and chief medical officer of Advantage IR, about building office based labs (OBLs), the untapped potential of the geniculate artery embolization (GAE) market, and how to build patient referrals for new OBLs. We begin by discussing why Dr. Wood chose to do geniculate artery embolization (GAE) in his OBLs. He says that GAE makes a great procedure for an office setting because it is relatively easy, only requiring a C arm with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). It is also a quick procedure with little side effects and low rates of complications. He says that patients who get GAE are a unique patient population because they know they have arthritis, and have exhausted conservative measures or declined treatment options that they have been offered, which are often quite invasive. Dr. Wood says his GAE patients are mostly self-referred. He has marketing liaisons for local clinics, but what he has found most effective is TV commercials in English and Spanish, because this reaches the populations that need the most help. His patient population for GAEs consists mostly of self referred patients, as well as referrals from PCPs and occasionally orthopedic or sports medicine providers. Regarding how Dr. Wood evaluates which patients to treat, he says that he began by using the point of maximal tenderness as described by Sandeep Bagla and required MRI before patient selection. He now uses primarily X-ray and only treats pain rated at least 5 out of 10. He does not do GAE in patients who have had knee surgery or with a history of significant PAD or calcification seen on preoperative X-ray. He generally tells patients they can expect up to a 70% improvement of pain after geniculate artery embolization. --- RESOURCES BackTable Ep. 27: Geniculate Artery Embolization for OA with Dr. Sandeep Bagla and Dr. Ari Isaacson https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/27/geniculate-artery-embolization-for-osteoarthritis BackTable Ep. 85: Genicular Artery Embolization for OA with Dr. Jafar Golzarian https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/85/genicular-artery-embolization-for-oa Bagla GAE Publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31837946/ Padia GAE Publication: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8542160/

6 Jun 20221h 7min

Dr. Aparna Baheti talks with Nicholas Petruzzi and Donald Garbett about their experiences in building an office-based lab (OBL) within their existing IR/DR practices. Learn how they campaigned and collaborated to get their colleagues on board, and the unique challenges of building and operating an OBL. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR 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&cid=n10008040 --- SHOW NOTES In this episode, host Dr. Ally Baheti interviews interventional radiologists Dr. Nick Petruzzi and Dr. Don Garbett about their own experiences with pitching and building an office-based lab (OBL) within their existing practices. First, each doctor describes how they arrived at the idea of an OBL. For Dr. Garbett, the main motivation was a drive to follow up with patients. On the other hand, Dr. Petruzzi was frustrated by the lack of adequate equipment and bureaucratic steps that his hospital required him to follow to request more equipment. Next, we shift to a discussion about how each of them got their practice partners to philosophically and financially buy into the OBL idea. Both doctors wrote and presented pro formas to delineate the net benefits. Additionally, Dr. Petruzzi proved that an OBL would be profitable by doing a few cases with trial periods for different C-arms. Dr. Garbett worked with his practice’s revenue cycle manager and accountant to verify his financial projections. Both emphasize the importance of group culture and the value of colleagues who are open-minded to expansion. Finally, we talk about unforeseen obstacles that have risen on their OBL journeys so far. Dr. Petruzzi describes his conversations with hospital systems, in which he had to advocate for IRs to be listed as referring doctors. Dr. Garbett cites concerns about billing and coding, which can be very complex for a third-party group to handle. We end with updates from each guest about the current status of their OBL and their next steps. --- RESOURCES Vascular Institute of Atlantic Medical Imaging: https://www.vi-ami.com/ Radiology Associates: https://www.rapc.com/

3 Jun 202250min

In this episode, host Dr. Sabeen Dhand interviews Dr. John Rundback, interventional radiologist, about distal femoropopliteal disease, including the unique pathophysiology of this area, which stents work best at the adductor canal and the trifurcation, and tips for early operators. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR Veryan BioMimics 3D® Vascular Stent System https://www.veryanmed.com/usa/products/biomimics-3d-vascular-stent-system/ --- SHOW NOTES In this episode, host Dr. Sabeen Dhand interviews Dr. John Rundback, interventional radiologist, about distal femoropopliteal disease, including the unique pathophysiology of this area, which stents work best at the adductor canal and the trifurcation, and tips for early operators. We begin by discussing peripheral arterial disease (PAD) pathophysiology, specifically in the challenging areas around the adductor canal (Hunter’s canal). Dr. Rundback describes how the femoral artery has twists and turns around this area and that it can experience compressive forces up to 15-20% during motions such as flexion of the knee. Due to this being the most dynamic location of the femoral artery, this is often where plaque rupture will happen, resulting in critical limb ischemia (CLI) and requiring urgent intervention. The two discuss how traditional rigid stents do not work well in this area due to the dynamic nature of the region and the fact that the artery is tortuous and can cause rigid stents to fracture or cause intimal hyperplasia due to turbulent flow. Drug coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty generally does not work for this region due to poor durability. They discuss the utility of the Tack device, a scaffold with minimal metal which is better suited for focal dissections. Dr. Rundback emphasizes the importance of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) during all distal femoropopliteal cases due to the complexity of the region and patient-to-patient variation. He uses IVUS to choose which device and what size to use because measuring on angiography is not accurate in these cases. Finally, they discuss the Supera and BioMimics stents, including the indications, benefits, and ease of deployment of each. Dr. Rundback says that Supera, a woven nitinol stent, gives it the benefit of thermal memory. The difficulty with this stent is the need for aggressive vessel preparation and plaque modification, generally requiring lengthy angioplasty and possibly atherectomy. The BioMimics stent can rotate, curve, and shorten, which is optimal for this region to maintain swirling or helical blood flow rather than causing turbulent flow. The BioMimics stent is also very easy to deploy, and Dr. Rundback generally chooses this stent in locations where he can’t adequately prep the vessel. --- RESOURCES BioMimics 3D stent: https://www.veryanmed.com/international/products/biomimics-3d-vascular-stent-system/ Supera™ Stent: https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/int/en/hcp/products/peripheral-intervention/supera-stent-system/overview.html Tack device: https://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/product/HCIGTDTCKESYSTM/tack-endovascular-system-dissection-repair-device

30 Mai 202235min

In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Douglas Beall, interventional radiologist, about extravertebral augmentation, new technology in interventional spine, and intrathecal drug pumps. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/XssSys --- SHOW NOTES In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Douglas Beall, interventional radiologist, about extravertebral augmentation, new technology in interventional spine, and intrathecal drug pumps. This is the final installment of our 4-part BackTable VI series on osteoporosis treatment. We begin by discussing insufficiency fractures outside of the vertebral body. Dr. Beall discusses how he has treated insufficiency fractures of the pelvis, sacrum, acetabulum, tibia, and calcaneus. He prefers to use a combination of rebar screws and cement, and he enjoys finding innovative solutions for patients without good options for pain relief. He discusses how he recently used this technique for an SI joint fusion. Next, we discuss two exciting innovations that will propel the field of interventional spine forward in the coming years. First, they discuss disc augmentation with hydrogels such as PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), PEG (polyethylene glycol), and PVP (polyvinyl povidone) which can be used to augment the annulus and nucleus without any requirement for ablation or regeneration. Secondly, Dr. Beall discusses the possibilities of interspinous process devices such as the Minuteman® fusion device. He hopes that technology is moving from spacers (the current method) to anterior column support. He believes that this is possible via Kambin’s Triangle (the space between the exiting nerve root, superior articular process, and transverse process). Finally, we discuss Dr. Beall’s newest book, ‘Intrathecal Pump Drug Delivery’. He attributes the small number of IRs doing this procedure to a lack of familiarity and a “how-to guide”. For this reason, he published his book, which includes types of medications used in intrathecal pumps, medication concentrations, trialing doses, and how the pump is used. He welcomes all IRs interested in learning how to incorporate intrathecal pumps into their practice to reach out to him and follow him on social media to keep up to date on training courses and webinars about this topic. --- RESOURCES Dr. Douglas Beall LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-beall-604ba68 Dr. Douglas Beall Twitter: @DougBeall Minuteman® interspinous-interlaminar fusion device: https://spinalsimplicity.com/minuteman/ Douglas Beall Books: Intrathecal Pump Drug Delivery Vertebral Augmentation: The Comprehensive Guide to Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty, and Implant Augmentation

26 Mai 202251min

In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Douglas Beall, interventional radiologist, about the latest advances in vertebral augmentation, how to reduce complications, and tips for producing successful and sustainable outcomes. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR RADPAD® Radiation Protection https://www.radpad.com/ --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/PdIxV5 --- SHOW NOTES In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Douglas Beall, interventional radiologist, about the latest advances in vertebral augmentation, how to reduce complications, and tips for producing successful and sustainable outcomes. This is the third installment of our 4-part BackTable VI series on osteoporosis treatment. Dr. Beall begins by discussing the newest technique in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures, screw-assisted vertebral augmentation, with emphasis on how it can decrease the excessive vertebral motion induced by a fracture. He uses the three-column approach (anterior, middle, and posterior column) using SpineJack in the front and pedicle screws in the back. They also discuss vertebral body stents and shaped balloons, two emerging technologies that will be available soon. Next, they discuss complications in kyphoplasty and vertebral body augmentation. Dr. Beall shares how to recognize various types of cement extravasation. Importantly, if the cement starts to form a lenticular shape, stop injecting because continued injection will cause the cement to enter the spinal canal. The lenticular, biconvex shape that occurs with this pattern is due to the anterior epidural ligaments and midline anterior epidural ligament. He says to let the cement harden in the anterior epidural space once you reach the basivertebral plexus, and then continue injecting. Extravasation, to some degree, is normal, and recognizing where it is going is the key to avoiding complications. We end by discussing how to improve outcomes. Dr. Beall says that injecting more cement is the best way to produce better outcomes. Lastly, he adds that filling the cleft is the best way to achieve the greatest degree of pain reduction, which ultimately is what indicates a successful outcome. --- RESOURCES Dr. Douglas Beall Twitter: @DougBeall BackTable VI Episode 94, Innovation in Spine Interventions with Dr. Douglas Beall: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/94/innovation-in-spine-interventions Cianfoni publication on Stent-Screw-Assisted Internal Fixation (SAIF): https://jnis.bmj.com/content/11/6/603 Venmans publication on Pulmonary Emboli during Vertebroplasty: www.ajnr.org/content/29/10/1983

25 Mai 202234min

In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Douglas Beall about current osteoporosis diagnosis criteria, his treatment algorithm, and recent data showing efficacy of osteoanabolic agents and vertebroplasty. --- CHECK OUT OUR SPONSOR DI4MDs Protect your most valuable asset, the skill and ability to practice your medical specialty. Be prepared by establishing a specialty specific disability insurance policy from the experts at DI4MDs. Contact them today at www.Di4MDS.com or call 888-934-4637. --- EARN CME Reflect on how this Podcast applies to your day-to-day and earn AMA PRA Category 1 CMEs: https://earnc.me/oQMiwe --- SHOW NOTES In this episode, host Dr. Jacob Fleming interviews Dr. Douglas Beall about current osteoporosis diagnosis criteria, his treatment algorithm, and recent data showing efficacy of osteoanabolic agents and vertebroplasty. This is the second installment of our 4-part BackTable VI series on osteoporosis treatment. As we continue our conversation from Ep. 208, Dr. Beall outlines his typical follow up protocol for his patients. This includes DEXA scans in the first and second years, prescriptions for antiresorptive and/or osteoanabolic agents, and possible Romosozumab injections. Dr. Beall emphasizes that thoroughness is key to treating the disease process, and each encounter is a reimbursable event that can benefit both the patient and the practice. Next, we shift to talking about the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis. Dr. Beall highlights the fact that there are 4 categories that encompass information about DEXA (T-scores), FRAX scores, and fragility fractures. Sole reliance on DEXA score cutoffs can lead to under-diagnosis and increased mortality risk for patients. Notably, any past fragility fracture in a postmenopausal woman is sufficient for an osteoporosis diagnosis. Dr. Beall shares that 82% of patients with fragility fractures do not have T-scores in the osteoporotic range. On the other hand, there are confounding factors that can give a falsely elevated T-score. As we shift to discussing medications for osteoporosis, Dr. Beall emphasizes the need to consider the order in which they are prescribed. He advocates for initially using osteo anabolics (specifically a PTH analog) for 2 years to build up bone mineral density, and then maintaining that density with antiresorptives afterwards. He notes that with the risk of bisphosphonate side effects like osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femur fracture, it is unwise to prescribe these antiresorptives as an initial treatment. Finally, we begin the conversation about vertebroplasty and recent trials proving its efficacy in reducing pain and improving function for patients. Tune in to our next 2 installments to learn about Dr. Beall’s clinical pearls for vertebral augmentation! --- RESOURCES Dr. Douglas Beall Twitter: @DougBeall BackTable VI Episode 94, Innovation in Spine Interventions with Dr. Douglas Beall: https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/94/innovation-in-spine-interventions Comparison of thoracolumbosacral orthosis and no orthosis for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures: interim analysis of a multicenter randomized clinical equivalence trial (2009): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19769510/ Comparative study of the treatment outcomes of osteoporotic compression fractures without neurologic injury using a rigid brace, a soft brace, and no brace: a prospective randomized controlled non-inferiority trial (2014): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25471910/ The efficacy of conservative treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures on acute pain relief: a systematic review with meta-analysis (2015): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25725810/ Clinical effect of balloon kyphoplasty in elderly patients with multiple osteoporotic vertebral fracture (2019): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30837413/

24 Mai 202245min