Results from CIRSE Multicenter Registry Reinforce Safety of St. Jude Medical Vascular Closure Device

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec 09, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, commends the efforts of the investigators in the CIRSE Vascular Closure Device Registry, the world's first multicenter registry aimed at assessing the performance of vascular closure devices in interventional radiology (IR) procedures.

With more than 1,100 patients enrolled at 28 centers in 10 European countries, the CIRSE registry validated the routine use of Angio-Seal(TM) vascular closure devices in IR, with successful deployment achieved in approximately 97 percent of procedures. The registry was conducted under the leadership of Principal Investigator Jim A. Reekers, M.D., Ph.D., professor of interventional radiology at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and confirmed that the use of Angio-Seal vascular closure devices in IR procedures is safe and effective with low incidence of serious complications.

"The CIRSE Vascular Closure Device Registry results provide physicians with an unbiased source of information that verifies the benefits of closure devices in interventional radiology procedures," said Dr. Reekers. "The results offer strong clinical data that demonstrate the use of Angio-Seal vascular closure devices are safe and effective with outstanding deployment success rates."

source: ST. Jude Medical

Toshiba's New Volume Navigation 3D Roadmap Facilitates More Accurate Visualization During Complex Interventions

During complex interventional procedures, it is challenging to accurately navigate and interpret the vascular anatomy for precise device deployment. To aid physicians during such interventions, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc., has introduced Volume Navigation 3D roadmapping for the InfinixTM-i vascular X-ray product line, providing greater confidence during difficult interventional procedures.

Toshiba's real-time Volume Navigation 3D roadmap displays the deployment of coils during intervention on a cerebral aneurysm with exceptional clarity and precision. Volume Navigation links the movements of the system components with the fusion 3D and fluoroscopic display, so despite changes in even table and C-arm position, the 3D overlay is automatically aligned with the fluoroscopic image with high accuracy. In addition, Volume Navigation provides 2D and 3D roadmap display modes and allows physicians to fine-tune images with manual controls for device enhancement, further assisting physicians when making difficult decisions during advanced procedures. Volume Navigation is particularly helpful for procedures on intricate vascular regions, such as the brain, uterus and abdominals.

source: Toshiba Medical

Society of Interventional Radiology Press Offers New Edition of Patient Care Resource

"Patient Care in Vascular and Interventional Radiology" - an essential resource and the first offering from Society of Interventional Radiology Press, the society's publishing arm - is now available. Also available is the companion "Patient Care in Vascular and Interventional Radiology Study Guide."

Written by top experts in their areas of specialty, this resource is ideal for physicians in their fellowship or in training, for certification or recertification or for those who want to brush up on crucial areas of patient care. The newly updated 448-page edition of SIR's popular syllabus covers major aspects such as vascular, neurologic, hepatobiliary, cardiac, pulmonary and genitourinary evaluation; management of hypertension, renal insufficiency, hematologic disorders, antiobiotics, analgesia and sedation, cardiopulmonary emergencies, vascular complications, liver and renal failure, postprocedural pain and nutrition; and postprocedural wound management. The spiral-bound book includes detailed tables and charts for handy reference, figures for illustration and bibliographies for further reading. Its compact size and spiral binding make it easy to carry for on-the-go learning.

source: SIR

Bleeding Risk Associated with Image-Guided Biopsies is Low

Even among patients who have taken aspirin in proximity to an image-guided percutaneous biopsy, risk of major bleeding associated with the procedure is low, according to a study in the March issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org). Image-guided percutaneous biopsies are an important means of diagnosing disease in organs and other soft tissues. They involve the removal of cells or tissues for examination.

“With the evolution of imaging guidance, percutaneous biopsy has become a valuable tool in obtaining tissue for diagnosis,” said Thomas D. Atwell, MD, lead author of the study. “Unfortunately, this procedure is not without risk, and hemorrhage is the most feared complication after biopsy,” he said.

The study included a retrospective review of percutaneous biopsies performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, over the course of six years. “Among the 15,181 percutaneous biopsies performed during the study period, only 70 hemorrhages (0.5 percent) were identified within three months of biopsy,” said Atwell. “The incidence of bleeding in patients taking aspirin within 10 days before biopsy was 0.6 percent (18/3,195),” he said.

“Our study shows that the overall incidence of major bleeding after imaging-guided percutaneous needle biopsy is low, and recent aspirin therapy does not appear to significantly increase the risk of such bleeding complications,” said Atwell.

source: ARRS

Society Of Interventional Radiology Supports Treatment For Painful Spine Fractures: Patient Selection Key

Given the current controversy over vertebroplasty -- a minimally invasive treatment performed by interventional radiologists in individuals with painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures that fail to respond to conventional medical therapy -- what's a patient to do? Trust your medical team to decide if you are an appropriate candidate for vertebroplasty and trust the experience of hundreds of thousands of other patients who have undergone the spine treatment successfully and received life-improving effects, says the Society of Interventional Radiology.

"Hundreds of thousands of patients have greatly benefited from vertebroplasty with almost complete resolution of their pain; tens of thousands dependent on intravenous narcotics have been discharged from the hospital virtually pain- and drug-free following their treatment," noted SIR President Brian F. Stainken, M.D., FSIR, who represents the national organization of nearly 4,500 doctors, scientists and allied health professionals dedicated to improving health care through minimally invasive treatments. "Before treatment, many of these osteoporotic patients are in constant pain and cannot manage everyday activities. Many are confined to bed for up to six weeks. These are the people we help; with vertebroplasty they can go home in one to two days. Candidates for the procedure are those who have failed to respond to conventional medical treatment (such as rest, analgesics and narcotic drugs).

source: SIR