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01_2_4_6_7VS11_9.qxp 9/9/2011 11:57 AM Page 1 ® C OURTESY U.S.A RMY /C HUCK R OBERTS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE Transporting a military patient in the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, where SVS volunteers have played a key role. Fifth Year of Military and SVS Partnership Begins BY SUE CROSSONKNUTSON Society for Vascular Surgery ® ince September 2007, civilian Society for Vascular Surgery members have volunteered at America’s largest hospital outside its borders at the U.S. Army’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), a state-of-the-art Level I trauma center in Germany that provides medical care for coalition forces from 48 countries who are fighting “down range” in both Iraq and Afghanistan. For the fifth year, SVS members have volunteered to provide continuous two-week rotations of vascular surgeons at LRMC. SVS members are helping to repair damaged arteries and veins of military personnel who are fighting the Global War on Terror. The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, and civilian medical S staff at LRMC have treated more than 64,000 wounded warriors since 2001. Most patients remain at LRMC for 3 to 5 days before being transported to other military medical facilities. The survival rate at LRMC is 99.5%. Additionally, LRMC provides medical care for the more than 245,000 U.S. military personnel and their families stationed in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Yet the Army has only 24 active duty vascular surgeons. These medical officers are stationed at combat hospitals and stateside U.S. military facilities. LRMC does not have permanently assigned military vascular or cardiothoracic surgeons although there is often a need for these specialties. The void created an opportunity for SVS members. “I asked fellow SVS members to support the troops and See Military/SVS • page 2 VOL. 7 • NO. 5 • SEPTEMBER 2011 Protocol Shrinks Ruptured AAA Treatment Times Our new editors provide an international dimension to our editorial advisory board. • 4 Transfer from ED to OR time improved. DVT & PE B Y P AT R I C E W E N D L I N G Else vier Global Medical Ne ws CHICAGO – A dedicated protocol that streamlines the care pathway dramatically improved the timely care of patients with life-threatening ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, although overall outcomes held relatively steady. Among 62 patients, the median overall door-to-treatment time decreased significantly from a preprotocol 183.5 minutes to 157 minutes post protocol (P = .05). That included a significant drop in median emergency department–to–operating room time (35 minutes vs. 23 minutes; P = .035), and nonsignificant reductions in time spent at the referring hospital (150.5 minutes vs. 110 minutes) and in transit (52 minutes vs. 35 minutes), Dr. Raghu Mota- ganahalli reported on behalf of his colleagues at Indiana University, Indianapolis. Data available on threefourths of the patients suggest that the expedited care improved immediate outcomes. The percentage of patients who had a Glasgow Aneurysm Score greater than 100 and who survived increased from 20% to 69% post implementation, Dr. Motaganahalli said at the annual meeting of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society. “Various therapeutic interventions, including endovascular therapy, have added to patient mortality,” he said. “However, there’s still a need to have a dedicated protocol that enables early recognition by increasing awareness, effective communication, and rapid transfer to centers taking I N S I D E News Welcome, Editors VTE Prophylaxis Computerized assessment tool aids in hospitals. • 6 News from the SVS SVS Foundation Annual Report The renamed foundation looks ahead to a vibrant future. • 1 0 Devices, Drugs & Trials The Blind Leading FDA reaffirms its preference for randomized, blinded trials, even for devices. • 1 4 See Ruptured AAA • page 7 CMS Bundled Payments Move Forward B Y M A RY E L L E N SCHNEIDER Else vier Global Medical Ne ws fficials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid SerO vices in August released a request for applications (RFA) inviting physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers to participate in the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative. The program, which was mandated under the Affordable Care Act, offers options for bundling payments for a hospital stay, for post-discharge services, or for both the hospital stay and the post-discharge care. Instead of paying hospitals, physicians, and other providers separately, this initiative would combine the payment over an episode of care for a specific condition. The aim of the pro- gram is to encourage clinicians to work together and provide better continuity of care, resulting in better quality and lower costs. “Today, Medicare pays for care the wrong way,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said during a teleconference to announce the bundling program. “PaySee CMS • page 2 VA S C U L A R SPECIALIST ONLINE! Visit our interactive editions and exclusive online content. w w w. v a s c u l a r s p e c i a l i s t o n l i n e . c o m 60 Columbia Rd., Bldg. B, 2nd flr. Morristown, NJ 07960 VASCULAR SPECIALIST CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 384 Lebanon Jct. KY 2 9/9/2011 11:58 AM Page 2 NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011 • VASCULAR SPECIALIST Landstuhl Military/SVS• from page 1 serve as two-week volunteer vascular surgeons at LRMC,” said Dr. David Gillespie COL (ret), MC, USA, Chief and Professor, Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, N.Y. “The Army agreed to provide overseas transportation and base housing.” With the details finalized, Dr. Ruth L. Bush of Texas A & M University became the first of the many SVS volunteer vascular surgeon at LRMC. “Since September 2007, 76 SVS members have donated their time and talents,” according to Dr. Gillespie. “The surgeons find the expe- rience rewarding. Many return year after year. There’s a waiting list for surgeons wanting to volunteer in 2012.” The unique military and civilian medical collaboration is a “win-win” for the surgeons and their patients. SVS surgeons witness military efficiency, especially real-time record-keeping. “Extraordinary telecommunications make it possible for surgeons ‘down range’ to speak with staff at LRMC and hospi- Bundled Payments CMS • from page 1 ments are based on the quantity of care, the amount of services delivered, not the quality of that care. And that leaves us too often with a system that actually can punish the providers that are most successful at getting and keeping their patients healthy.” The new bundling program offers three ways for health care providers to receive payment retrospectively, and one way to receive a prospective payment. Under some of the retrospective payment models, CMS and the providers would agree on a target payment amount for the episode of care and providers would be paid under the original Medicare fee-for-service system, but at a negotiated discount of 2% to 3% or greater. At the end of the care episode, the total payment would be compared with the target price and providers would be able to share in the savings, according to CMS. Under prospective payment model, CMS would make a single bundled payment to the hospital to cover all services provided during the inpatient stay by the hospital, physicians, and other providers. That payment would offer at least a 3% discount to Medicare. Under this option, physicians and other providers would submit “no pay” claims to Medicare and the hospital would pay them out of the single bundled payment. In addition to the options of prospective or retrospective payment, providers could choose how long the episode of care will be and what conditions they want to bundle payment for, and what services would be included in the payment. CMS officials said they wanted to make the program flexible so that a range of hospitals, physicians, and other providers could participate. The American College of Surgeons General Surgery Coding and Reimbursement Committee (GSCRC) has been actively studying how bundled payments could be applied in surgery. The ACS believes that critical to the success of any bundling initiative is ensuring that the bundle is clinically coherent. The ACS GSCRC will continue this work and their discussions with the administration, CMS, and other stakeholders to ensure that any possible bundled payments in surgery will improve patient care. Organizations interested in applying must submit a letter of intent by Sept. 22 for Model 1 and by Nov. 4 for Models 2, 3, and 4. More information on the program and how to apply is available at www.innovations.cms.gov/areas-of-focus/patient-care-models/bundled-payments-for-care-improvement.html. er of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School possess the skill to complete the procedure but he also had the contacts at German companies to access the necessary surgical supplies,” said Col. John Cho, Commanding Officer of LRMC. “If it weren’t for our Visiting Vascular Surgeon Program with SVS, the graft procedure wouldn’t have been an option at all,” Dr. Cho added. ■ tals in the United States,” said Dr. Michael Weingarten of Drexel University, Pennsylvania. “This facilitates continuity of care from point of injury.” Likewise, SVS surgeons performed the first thoracic endovascular graft implant procedure at LRMC. Although commonly performed at civilian hospitals to repair diseased or torn aortas, the procedure had never been attempted at LRMC. “Not only did Dr. Paul Has- Dr. Richard Gilfillan, the acting director of the CMS Innovation Center, which is overseeing the bundling initiative, said he expects that hundreds of organizations will apply. The program is a unique opportunity for hospitals to redesign their systems to promote better care coordination, Dr. Gilfillan said, and have that effort supported through Medicare payments. The idea is to eliminate the traditional barriers between physicians and other providers – both inpatient and outpatient – all of whom may be involved in the care of a single condition, said Dr. Nancy Nielson, senior advisor to the CMS Innovation Center and past president of the American Medical Association. The AMA was still reviewing the bundled payment details at press time, but Dr. Cecil B. Wilson, AMA immediate past president, said the organization will urge federal officials to encourage applications for physician-led bundling projects. “For this to be successful, and for physicians to participate actively, then they need to be a part of that process rather than just some larger corporation or larger hospital system or health plan that’s organizing these,” he said. “We think those are important as well, but we also think it’s important that physicians be a part of that leadership.” Health care consultant Robert Minkin urged physicians to seriously consider applying for the bundling program. The program is a sentinel event in the move from fee for service to more centralized, coordinated care model, he said. ■ PERSPECTIVE 01_2_4_6_7VS11_9.qxp his program should result in multiple benefits to everyone. By identifying and reducing frontline costs incurred by surgeons, physicians, and other providers, costs to the entire system are eliminated rather than simply shifted to another part of the system. We should applaud this kind of incisive “surgical strike” and help CMS identify other similar opportunities. T DR. MAGRUDER C. DONALDSON is the chairman of surgery at Metrowest Medical Center in Framingham, Mass. He is also an associate medical editor of VASCULAR SPECIALIST. For Dr. Donalson’s complete editorial on this article, please visit our website at www. vascularspecialistonline.com. VASCULAR S PECIALIST VASCULAR SPECIALIST Medical Editor George Andros, M.D. to the products, drugs, or services mentioned herein. POSTMASTER Send changes of address (with old mailing label) to Circulation, VASCULAR SPECIALIST, 60 B Columbia Rd., 2nd flr., Morristown, NJ 07960. ASSOCIATE EDITORS Ali AbuRahma, M.D., Charles A. Andersen, M.D., Magruder Craighead Donaldson, M.D., Ronald Fairman, M.D., Rob Fitridge, M.D., Larry Kraiss, M.D., Joan Lohr, M.D., James McKinsey, M.D., Mark Morasch, M.D., Frank Pomposelli, M.D., Brian Rubin, M.D., Russell H. Samson M.D., Cliff Shearman, M.D., Cynthia Shortell, M.D., Frank J. Veith, M.D., Robert Eugene Zierler, M.D. The Society for Vascular Surgery headquarters is located at 633 N. St. Clair St., 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611. Executive Director SVS Rebecca Maron ©Copyright 2011, by the Society for Vascular Surgery VASCULAR SPECIALIST (ISSN 1558-0148) is published bimonthly for the Society for Vascular Surgery by Elsevier Inc., 60 B Columbia Rd., 2nd flr., Morristown, NJ 07960, 973-290-8200, fax 973-290-8250. VASCULAR SPECIALIST is the official newspaper of the Society for Vascular Surgery and provides the vascular specialist with timely and relevant news and commentary about clinical developments and about the impact of health care policy. Content for VASCULAR SPECIALIST is provided by International Medical News Group, LLC, an Elsevier company, and Elsevier Global Medical News. Content for the News From the Society is provided by the Society for Vascular Surgery. The ideas and opinions expressed in VASCULAR SPECIALIST do not necessarily reflect those of the Society or the Publisher. The Society for Vascular Surgery and Elsevier Inc., will not assume responsibility for damages, loss, or claims of any kind arising from or related to the information contained in this publication, including any claims related President, IMNG Alan J. Imhoff Director, ESNG Mark Branca Editor in Chief Mary Jo M. Dales Executive Editors Denise Fulton, Kathy Scarbeck Managing Editor Mark S. 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Letters to the Editor: VascularSpecialist@vascularsociety.org VAS_3.qxp 1/3/2011 12:41 PM Page 1 Femoral Artery Saphenous Vein Aortoiliac Artery UÊ7iÊ Ê-ÕÌ>LiÊÕÌ } Õà /ÃÃÕiÊÃÊÛ>>Li UÊ}ÊLÊ->Û>}iÊ,>ÌiÃ1 ÀÞ «ÀiÃiÀÛi`ÊÕ>Ê> }À>vÌà UÊ,iÃÃÌ>ÌÊÌ ÊviVÌ 2 Femoral Vein 1 Buckley C, Abernathy S, Lee S, Arko F, Patterson D, and Manning L. Suggested treatment protocol for improving patency of femoral-infrapopliteal cryopreserved saphenous vein allograft. J Vasc Surg 2000;32:731-8. 2 Vardanian A, Chau A, Quinones-Baldrich W, and Lawrence P. Arterial allograft allows in-line reconstruction of prosthetic graft infection with low recurrence rate and mortality. Am Surg 2009;75:1000-3. £ÈxxÊ, LiÀÌÃÊ ÕiÛ>À`]Ê 7ÊÊUÊÊiiÃ>Ü]Êi À}>ÊÎä£{{ÊÊUÊÊ* iÊnnn®Ê{ÓÇÈx{ÊÊUÊÊÇÇä®Ê{£ÎÎxx All trademarks are owned by CryoLife, Inc. © 2011 CryoLife, Inc. All rights reserved. www.theidealvasculargrafts.com 01_2_4_6_7VS11_9.qxp 4 9/9/2011 11:58 AM Page 4 NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011 • VASCULAR SPECIALIST VEITH’S VIEWPOINT Can RCTs be Misleading and Biased? andomized controlled trials It was originally designed to compare (RCTs) constitute level 1 evi- CAS and CEA only in symptomatic padence, which is widely consid- tients. When adequate numbers of paered the best data upon which to base tients could not be recruited, medical practice. This is particularly asymptomatic patients were added, true when the RCTs are published in thereby diluting the power of the study leading journals like the New England and impairing the statistical significance of some of its results. Journal of Medicine or Other design flaws include Lancet. Such trials are questionable competence of viewed by many as the Holy operators in a trial (e.g. the Grail of medicine and thus CAS operators in the EVA-3S infallible and inviolate. and ICSS trials); problems with However, RCTs can have randomization (e.g. SAPmany flaws that render them PHIRE in which only 10% of obsolete, non-applicable or eligible patients were randomoutright misleading. More ized); and questionable applicimportantly RCTs can be ability of RCT results to real misinterpreted or spun by world practice (e.g. CAS opertheir authors or others so BY FRANK J. ators in CREST were highly that they exert an effect on VEITH, M.D. vetted and more skilled than practice trends or standards others performing the procedure). unjustified by their data. There are also idiosyncratic flaws, as Possible flaws in RCTs are of two in the EVAR 2 trial in patients unfit for types: 1. Timeliness flaws can occur when open repair. Although this trial, pubprogress is made in the treatment un- lished in Lancet, showed EVAR to have der evaluation arm or the control arm. similar mortality to no treatment, half Examples would be the early trials of the deaths in the group randomized to carotid stenting (CAS) vs. carotid en- EVAR occurred from rupture during a darterectomy (CEA). If progress in CAS lengthy (average 57 days) waiting peritechnology or patient selection occurs, od before treatment. Had these deaths a trial showing CAS inferiority becomes been prevented by a more timely EVAR, invalid. In contrast, the landmark trials the conclusion of EVAR 2 might have showing CEA to be superior to medical been different. Inappropriate or questionable primatreatment in preventing strokes have become obsolete because dramatic ry endpoints in RCTS are another design progress has been made with medical flaw that can lead to misleading conclusions. An example is the inclusion of mitreatment. 2. Many design flaws can impair the nor myocardial infarctions (MIs) with validity of RCTs. These include patient strokes and deaths as a composite endselection flaws (e.g. in SAPPHIRE, pa- point in a CAS vs. CEA trial (e.g. SAPtients were selected for randomization PHIRE and CREST). The components of the primary endonly if they were high risk for CEA). SAPPHIRE also included 71% asympto- point in the CAS and CEA arms of matic patients in whom the high adverse CREST were death, stroke, and myocarevent rates for both CEA and CAS were dial infarction. Total stroke and minor unjustified. Good medical treatment strokes were both significantly different would have served these patients better. in the two groups in favor of CEA, and CREST also had patient selection flaws. death and major strokes, although not R significantly different between the two groups were both numerically higher for CAS. (See complete table oline at www. vascularspecialistonline.com) Although it is arguable, it is hard to understand how minor MIs are the equivalent of strokes and deaths, and only when MIs were included were the adverse event rates in the two groups similar (7.2% for CAS vs 6.8% for CEA, P = .051). So much for the flaws in RCTs. What about good trials or those with only minor weaknesses? Even these can result in misleading conclusions when the authors reach conclusions unjustified by their own data. SAPPHIRE and CREST are two recent examples. Despite the flaws in these trials, both of which were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors concluded that “with high risk patients CAS and CEA are equivalent treatments” (SAPPHIRE) and “among patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis, the risk of the composite primary end-point … did not differ significantly in the group undergoing CAS and the group undergoing CEA” (CREST). Although the CREST authors pointed out the higher incidence of stroke with stenting, others have used the CREST study to claim equivalence of CAS and CEA. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the recent American Heart Association (AHA) Guideline on the management of patients with extracranial carotid and vertebral artery disease. This important and influential document, which was also approved by 13 other organizations including the SVS, stated that “CAS is indicated as an alternative to CEA for symptomatic patients at average or low risk of complications associated from endovascular interventions….” In Webster’s Dictionary one definition of “alternative” is “a choice between 2 things”. This clearly implies equivalence, and it has been so interpreted by many others, particularly those biased toward catheter based treatment. Of note, the AHA Guideline appears to be based largely on CREST, and did not even consider the findings of the ICSS trial, published in Lancet the same day as the main article reporting CREST. Although ICSS may also have flaws, it showed, in a large group of only symptomatic patients, that CAS produced significantly more strokes and diffusion weighted MRI defects than did CEA. It is hard to understand why these ICSS results did not have more of an influence on the AHA Guideline. Although my bias as a CAS enthusiast makes me believe that CAS will ultimately have a major role in the treatment of carotid stenosis patients, that bias is not yet sufficient for me to spin the data and believe we are now there. One has to wonder if bias more intense than mine was involved in the conclusion reached in the AHA Guideline. Thus, it is apparent that misleading conclusions can be reached in articles reporting RCTs in leading journals. These can be the result of flaws in the RCTs and/or unrecognized author bias. More importantly, the results of even good trials can be further misinterpreted by others to guide practice standards in a way unjustified by the data. It is important for all to recognize the possible role of bias in these misinterpretations. By recognizing the possible flaws in RCTs and that physicians, like all other people, are influenced by bias, we can exercise the judgment to use RCTs fairly to help us treat individual patients optimally. ■ DR. FRANK J. VEITH is professor of surgery at New York University Medical Center and professor of surgery and William J. von Liebig Chair in vascular surgery at Case Western Reserve University and The Cleveland Clinic. Introducing Our New International Editors Professor Fitridge is professor of vascular surgery at Professor Shearman is professor of vascular surgery at the University of Southampton and a consultant vas- the University of Adelaide and Head of Vascular Surgery at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. cular surgeon at Southampton He became chairman of the Board of VasUniversity Hospitals NHS Board of a current copy of the JVS to recular Surgery in 2002 and during his tenure Trust. He was on the Council alize that the Society for Vascular Surgery the online curriculum was developed. In and Chairman of the Training is unquestionably an international organicollaboration with Matt Thompson he editand Education Committee of zation. This sort of globalization, in coned “Mechanisms of Vascular Disease: A the Vascular Society of Great trast to the variety that, according to Tom Textbook for Vascular Surgeons” published Britain and Ireland, and PresiFriedman, makes the world flat instead by Cambridge University Press. His redent of the Society (2009-2010) makes our specialty more vibrant and insearch interests include the systemic efHe has a long time interest in teresting than ever. fects of skeletal muscle reperfusion injury training and was appointed Because of this world change we believe and outcome modelling in aortic surgery. head of the Wessex Post Gradthat our journals should better represent He recently was elected president of the uate School of Surgery in 2007. the people that write and read our journals, PROFESSOR CLIFF PROFESSOR ROB ANZSVS and is president of the World He is currently president elect and so, too, this newspaper. For this reason, SHEARMAN FITRIDGE Federation of Vascular Societies. of the Society for Academic we introduce in this issue our two newest We welcome these new additions to our editorial members of the VASCULAR SPECIALIST Editorial Board: Research Surgery and Director of Professional Practice From England, we have Professor Cliff Shearman, and for the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ire- team. from Australia, Professor Rob Fitridge. Both have a land. His main clinical interest is in the vascular comGeorge Andros, M.D. well-deserved preeminence and will broaden the view plications of diabetes and in particular trying to reduce Medical Editor the rate of amputation in this group. and the viewpoint of your SVS newspaper. our readers have any doubt, all they need do is cascan the program for the recent VAM in ChicaIgofsually or examine the content and Editorial VAS_5.qxp 8/31/2011 11:24 AM Page 1 Advance your vascular procedures. 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EMBOLIC THERAPIES ENDOVASCULAR AORTIC REPAIR LEAD MANAGEMENT LEG THERAPIES PULMONARY EMBOLISM PREVENTION RENAL THERAPIES STRUCTURAL HEART ACCESS For more information, contact your Cook Medical representative. © COOK 2011 PI-BADV-VSADSEP-201109 01_2_4_6_7VS11_9.qxp 6 9/12/2011 2:29 PM Page 6 NEWS SEPTEMBER 2011 • VASCULAR SPECIALIST Computerized Tool Improves VTE Prophylaxis CHICAGO – By implementing an online risk assessment tool, researchers at one institution were able to improve hospital-wide prophylaxis and significantly cut the number of venous thrombotic events, according to Dr. Nicholas J. Morrissey. “Our overall level of prophylaxis at both campuses was 98%; whereas preimplementation, we had about a 71% level of appropriate prophylaxis,” said Dr. Morrissey of the department of surgery at Columbia University in New York at the Vascular Annual Meeting. Starting June 2010, all patients admitted to New York–Presbyterian Hospital were required to have their venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessed as part of their electronic admission orders. Physicians were free to use a specially developed online risk assessment tool or their own judgment regarding prophylaxis. The VTE risk assessment tool was created by a bicampus committee of clinicians from various specialties, IT support, nursing, and data management staff. This group also reviewed all documented VTE events from June 2010 to the present. Each event was subjected to clinical adjudication for accuracy. Risk assessment and prophylaxis were monitored using AMALGA (Microsoft) software that allows real-time accumulation of clinical data that goes into the patient’s hospital electronic health record. VTE rates were monitored through chart review by certified coders. Patients who were positive for VTE events were further examined and rates were compared before and after implementation of the assessment tool. In addition, a random sampling of patients on several inpatient floors was performed to determine if the adequate level of VTE was being used. “Through a very recent random sampling of 503 patients in the entire hospital, we looked to see what the adequate prophylaxis level was after the implementation of our tool,” said Dr. Morrissey. This was defined as appropriate pharmacologic prophylaxis when indicated. They also compared pre- and post-implementation periods to assess VTE rates. At New York–Presbyterian’s Columbia University Medical Center campus, the VTE rate prior to assessment implementation was 1.08/1,000 patientdays from January through June 2010. At the same campus, the VTE rate dropped to 0.80/1,000 patient-days from July through December. Similarly, at New York–Presbyterian’s other campus, Weill Cornell Medical Center, the VTE rate was 1.19/1,000 patient-days from January through June 2010; it dropped to 0.84/1,000 patient-days from July through December 2010. “Interestingly, what we found at both institutions was that our pulmonary embolism rate dropped significantly between the first and second half of 2010,” said Dr. Morrissey. At Columbia, the number of pulmonary embolisms dropped from 24 to 15. At Cornell, the number of PEs dropped from 41 to 15. “We saw that a significant number of patients actually suffered from upperextremity line-associated clots,” he noted. At Columbia, there were 31 upper extremity events from January to June 2010; there were 33 from July to December. At Cornell, there were 38 upper extremity events in the first half of the year and 33 in the second half. Both institutions used the AMALGA system to provide clinicians with feedback. The software calculates the patient’s risk score in real time as patients are admitted, based on their past medical history. The software also collects all of the information entered into the electronic order set. This allows staff to look and see which patients are listed as high risk or low risk and whether the clinician used the tool appropriately. “So we’re ac- tually able to assess hospital wide how these patients are receiving prophylaxis.” The tool also allows the identification of patients that are inappropriately classified based on risk and who are receiving inappropriate prophylaxis. “We can reach out to those clinicians in real time and discuss with them the issues related to prophylaxis.” The authors reported that they have no relevant disclosures. ■ PERSPECTIVE BY KERRI WACHTER Else vier Global Medical Ne ws n this evolving age of electronic medical records it is very easy to add prompters that require the physician to indicate if a patient is on prophylaxis and if not to justify why they are not being utilized. As pointed out in this review it will improve adherence and ultimately outcomes. I look at this as a prompter rather than dictating medical care. I think this is the wave of the future. I CHARLES ANDERSEN, M.D., is chief of vascular surgery at the Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington. ® 3RZHUHGE\ Quality Improvement = Reduced Healthcare Costs The Vascular Quality Initiative® (VQI) provides benchmarked reports of key quality measures for high impact vascular procedures to drive regional quality improvement efforts. Quality improvement practice changes are implemented through regional groups, translating directly to hospital cost reductions. Example from VQI: Decrease in length of stay for Lower Extremity Bypass = estimated savings of $80,800 per admission, using HCUP mean cost of $19,700 per day* Join Today! Call 603.298.5509 or email vqi@m2s.com www.vascularqualityinitiative.org *Source: HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). 2007-2009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/nisoverview.jsp. 01_2_4_6_7VS11_9.qxp 9/9/2011 11:59 AM Page 7 ANEURYSMS S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 • W W W. VA S C U L A R S P E C I A L I S T O N L I N E . C O M Treatment Times care of patients with ruptured aneurysms.” The level I vascular emergency program at Indiana University Methodist Hospital instituted a protocol for acute aortic emergencies, as well as limbthreatening ischemia, in August 2009. The transferring emergency department (ED) or attending physician initiates the process by calling a Lifeline Telecom toll-free number. Lifeline Telecom arranges the transportation of the patient and calls the hospital operator, who sends out a burst page to the on-call vascular surgeon, OR charge nurse, and vascular fellow as well as the emergency medicine and trauma center (EMTC) charge nurse, cardiovascular critical care charge nurse, patient access team leader, level I vascular coordinator, main admission office, transfer center, chaplain, and security. Meanwhile, the transferring ED faxes the patient’s face sheet to Lifeline, and the referring ED nurse calls in the patient report to the receiving ED charge nurse, Dr. Motaganahalli explained. Upon receiving the page, the receiving surgeon and OR charge nurse call the same Lifeline number and hold a conference call with the transferring ED • from page 1 physician to determine whether the patient should go to the ED or directly to an OR. The surgeon then directs the OR charge nurse on the type of procedure to ©E LSEVIER I NC. Ruptured AAA reads the CT scans if they’re available. Indiana University Methodist Hospital is developing a central site where referring hospitals can upload images directly to its website, but for now, the hospital relies on transmission via CV Express or discs that arrive with the patient, Dr. Motaganahalli said. The patients are mostly male, are This CT image demonstrates a [lethal] ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm has a calcified rim (short arrow). Note the surrounding hemorrhage (long arrow). transported by air, and have CT scans obtained at the referring facility. Of the 90 patients who have been treated since the protocol was adopted through No- prepare, and the nurse sends a burst page to the OR team. The surgeon is transferred by the operator to the EMTC physician, who VESAP 2 vember 2010, eight have died in transit or upon arrival. Although all 26 preprotocol patients were treated with open repair, 36% of the 36 postprotocol patients have undergone endovascular repair, according to Dr. Motaganahalli In all, 8 (30.7%) preprotocol patients died, compared with 11 (30.5%) postprotocol patients, including 3 who were treated endovascularly. Hospital length of stay and patient disposition were also similar. The invited discussant, Dr. Ravi Veeraswamy, who is a vascular surgeon from Emory University in Atlanta, asked Dr. Motaganahalli whether there is a protocol in place for endovascular repair, and why the shorter treatment times seen in the study did not translate into a greater improvement in outcomes. Dr. Motaganahalli replied that the university is attracting more sick patients from across the state who previously would have died, and that these patients generally have worse hemodynamic values when they arrive. He said that endovascular repair is based on purely anatomical criteria, and that they may use aortic balloon occlusion to temporarily obtain hemodynamic stability, but that these patients usually go on to open repair. The authors reported that they had no disclosures. ■ ® Purchase at VESAP.org Kim J. Hodgson, MD and John F. Eidt, MD, Editors-in-Chief Section Editors About VESAP ® 2 Objectives Ronald M. Fairman, MD; Thomas S. Riles, MD; Peter A. Schneider, MD; Anton N. Sidawy, MD, MPH; Mark F. Fillinger, MD; J. Gregory Modrall, MD; Anthony J. Comerota, MD; Benjamin W. Starnes, MD. • 450 all new questions, with detailed discussions and references for each question — a significant increase in the number of questions. • Describe the current treatment of aortoiliac aneurysmal and occlusive disease. Accreditation and Continuing Medical Education Credit The Society for Vascular Surgery® (SVS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. SVS designates this enduring material for a maximum of 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Contact education@vascularsociety.org or 800-258-7188 with questions. • VESAP ® 2 is a self-assessment program designed to meet the Maintenance of Certification requirements of the Vascular Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery. • It is an invaluable aid for vascular surgeons in preparing for the qualifying, certification, and recertification examinations in vascular surgery and to remain current in the specialty of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy. • Vascular residents and fellows will find it a useful study aid for their ABSITE or VSITE examinations. • Interventional radiologists, cardiologists, vascular medicine specialists, and allied health care professionals focusing on vascular diseases may use VESAP ® 2 self-assessment to keep abreast of the current practice of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy. Purchase VESAP 2 at www.vesap.org. ® SVS Member — $400 SVS Candidate Member — $300 SVS General Surgery Resident/Student Member —$250 Non-member — $500 ® 7 • Discuss the possible etiologies of extremity arterial disease and appropriate interventions. • Identify the evaluation and management of brachiocephalic and cerebrovascular disease. • Explain the medical management of vascular disease and critical features of dialysis access. • Describe the non-invasive vascular laboratory tests, CT and MR angiography used in the evaluation of vascular disease, including the benefits and limitations of each. Review the assessment and treatment of renovascular hypertension and mesenteric ischemia. • Discuss the etiology and treatment of acute and chronic venous disease and lymphatic disease. • Review vascular trauma management and the surgical nutrition and critical care essentials of the vascular patient. 08_9VS11_9.qxp 8 9/9/2011 12:00 PM Page 8 DVT & PULMONARY EMBOLISM SEPTEMBER 2011 • VASCULAR SPECIALIST Dalteparin Same as Unfractionated Heparin for DVT? B Y M A RY A N N M O O N Else vier Global Medical Ne ws he low-molecular-weight heparin dalteparin was found to be no better than unfractionated heparin in preventing proximal leg deep vein thrombosis among critically ill adults, according to an international study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. Rates of venous thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, major bleeding, and death also were similar with the two agents. Although dalteparin was associated with significantly fewer pulmonary emboli and significantly less heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, these were not primary outcomes, and “caution is warranted in making inferences about nominally significant findings in secondary outcomes,” said Dr. Deborah Cook and her coinvestigators in the Prophylaxis for Thromboembolism in Critical Care Trial (PROTECT). The study was published online simultaneously with its presentation at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine in Brussels. The study was done because two previous randomized trials comparing the two types of heparin were inconclusive. T PROTECT was conducted in 67 ICUs within academic or community hospitals in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A total of 3,746 patients were randomly assigned in equal numbers to receive either dalteparin or unfractionated heparin to prevent thromboembolism. Approximately three-fourths of the study subjects were medical patients and DALTEPARIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER PULMONARY EMBOLI AND SIGNIFICANTLY LESS HEPARININDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA. the remainder were surgical patients. Ninety percent required mechanical ventilation and 45% required vasopressors. “Throughout the trial, the rates of cointerventions with drugs or devices that influence bleeding or thrombotic risk were similar in the two groups,” according to Dr. Cook of the departments of medicine and clinical epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., and her colleagues. Twice a week until discharge, the study subjects underwent ultrasonography of the proximal venous system in the leg at 1-cm intervals to detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Compressibility was documented at the common femoral, proximal, middle, and distal superficial femoral and popliteal veins, and at the venous trifurcation. Even though screening compression ultrasonography has limitations in this regard, it was chosen because “classic signs and symptoms of DVT do not develop in comatose, recumbent, critically ill patients.” Moreover, it is safe, noninvasive, readily available, and recommended for such research, the investigators said. The median duration of the use of both drugs was 7 days. The primary end point – incident proximal leg DVT – developed in 96 (5.1%) of the patients receiving dalteparin, compared with 109 (5.8%) of those receiving unfractionated heparin, a nonsignificant difference. However, “the confidence interval around the hazard ratio for the primary end point was fairly wide, so it did not exclude either a 32% benefit or a 23% harm associated with dalteparin, as compared with unfractionated heparin. Thus, the result for the primary outcome was not clinically directive,” the researchers said (N. Engl. J. Med. 2011 March 22 [doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1014475]). The rates of venous thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, major bleeding, and death also were similar between the two groups. Patients in the dalteparin group had significantly fewer pulmonary emboli (1.3% vs. 2.3% of patients) and significantly less heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (0.3% vs. 0.6% of patients), but these outcomes must be interpreted with caution, given the small numbers, Dr. Cook and her associates said. These study findings were consistent in further adjusted analyses of the data, as well as in sensitivity analyses and a perprotocol analysis. “Our results might have been different if the study enrollment had been larger or if we had used different drugs or doses,” they noted. The PROTECT study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists Research Foundation, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Study drugs were provided by Pfizer and Eisai. The investigators reported ties to numerous industry sources. ■ Join your colleagues in Washington, D.C. for the 66th Vascular Annual Meeting ® of the Society for Vascular Surgery ® The premier annual meeting for vascular health professionals s Earn continuing education credit through breakfast, plenary, and concurrent sessions s Enjoy exciting scientific presentations s Attend the E. Stanley Crawford Critical Issues Forum s Experience the extensive trade exhibition s Attend Industry supported clinical symposia s Learn during the Postgraduate Courses Day prior to the meeting, June 6, 2012 Visit VascularAnnualMeeting.org or telephone 800-258-7188 for complete and updated meeting information. June 7- 9, 2012 | Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center National Harbor, MD located just outside Washington, D.C. Call for abstracts deadline is January 3, 2012 Registration and housing opens March 1, 2012 ® 08_9VS11_9.qxp 9/9/2011 12:00 PM Page 9 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 • W W W. VA S C U L A R S P E C I A L I S T O N L I N E . C O M CAROTID ARTERY DISEASE Carotid IMT Predicts Coronary Events in Rheumatoid Arthritis Else vier Global Medical Ne ws NEW YORK – Imaging seems to be the sine qua non of determining cardiovascular disease risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Jeffrey D. Greenberg noted that, over the last 10-15 years, epidemiologic studies have shown patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a twofold increase in the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke and an increase in cardiovascular-related deaths. The need for precise tools with which to predict risk has become more urgent with the recently published findings that carotid ultrasound measurement of carotid intima-media thickness has been found to predict coronary events in patients with RA, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and manifestations of RA. The study, conducted by Dr. Matthew R. Evans and his associates at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex., found that there appears to be a dose-dependent relationship between plaque and risk, with a 2.5-fold increase with unilateral plaque and 4.3-fold increase with bilateral carotid plaque, suggesting that atherosclerosis plays a significant role in acute coronary events in patients with RA (Arthritis Rheum. 2011 [doi:10.1002/art.30265]). In discussing Dr. Evans’s research at his presentation at a rheumatology meeting sponsored by New York University, Dr. Greenberg said that this is the first study to demonstrate the predictive value of measuring carotid IMT and plaque for cardiovascular events in RA patients. In the Evans study, carotid ultrasounds were performed on 636 RA patients as part of the prospective ORALE (Outcome of Rheumatoid Arthritis Longitudinal Evaluation) study. These patients were followed for 3,402 person-years and, during that time, 84 patients experienced 121 new or recurrent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events, such as myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cardiac arrest, or death from ischemic heart disease. The rate of ACS events was 3.5/100 patient-years for this group. If only those without a prior history of ACS were analyzed, this group had 66 ACS events, with an incidence of 2.1 ACS/100 person-years. Multivariate analysis of baseline factors associated with incident or recurrent acute coronary syndromes revealed that two markers of atherosclerosis were independent predictors of a subsequent coronary event. Having a past cardiovascular event raised the risk almost threefold (hazard ratio, 2.87 [1.75, 4.73]; P = .001) and carotid intima-media thickness also raised the risk significantly (HR, 1.61 [1.24, 2.08]; P = .001). After substituting carotid plaque for intima-media thickness, the investigators found a 2.5-fold increase in risk for unilateral plaque and almost a sixfold increase in risk for bilateral plaque. The findings confirmed traditional demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. These included male sex (HR, 1.94 [1.11, 3.39]); diabetes (HR, 2.24 [1.44, 3.50]), and hypertension (HR, 1.56 [1.00, 2.44]). Measures of RA severity, such as swollen joint counts (HR, 1.03 [1.01, 1.06]) and cumulative prednisone dose of 20 g (HR, 2.12 [1.32, 3.42]) also had predictive value. Dr. Greenberg receives consulting fees from Genentech Inc. ■ ©E LSEVIER I NC. BY AMY ROTHMAN SCHONFELD Intima-media thickness (IMT) was defined as the distance between the first echogenic line (inner membrane of the far wall) and the second echogenic line, showing the border between the middle and outer coats. CREATED FOR SURGERY designed for comfort Other Loupes SurgiCam Pro Digital Video Camera Display and/or record exactly what you see with this lightweight camera designed for surgery Excellent Posture Poor Posture SurgiTel eliminated all of the neck pain that I previously endured with other telescopes. Raymond L. Singer, MD All the features to help you see and feel your best Patented Ergonomic Titanium Frames Designed for improving your posture, SurgiTel patents provide for the best declination angle and optical alignment. /oupes .5[ 8.0[ +eadlights Cameras 9 Compact Prism Telescopes SurgiTel’s patented Compact Prism Telescopes (3.0x-4.5x) are shorter and lighter then traditional prism telescopes. www.surgitel.com 800.959.0153 10_11_12_13VS11_9.qxp 10 9/9/2011 12:02 PM Page 10 NEWS FROM THE SVS SEPTEMBER 2011 • VASCULAR SPECIALIST T H E SVS F O U N D AT I O N ¨ A N N U A L R E P O R T 2011 A Message from SVS Foundation® Chair, Robert Zwolak, MD Dr. G. Patrick Clagett, last year’s chair, succeeded in To strengthen the raising funds to Society for Vascular present the K08, K23, Surgery’s® (SVS) EJ Wylie Traveling presence in advocacy Fellowship Resident and continuing Research Price, and education, SVS Student Research replaced its Fellowships to our foundation, the specialty’s most American Vascular promising future Association® (AVA), leaders this year. The ROBERT M. ZWOLAK, MD, with the SVS® awardees are featured CHAIR, SVS FOUNDATION Foundation. The (below) receiving their AVA’s accomplishawards at the 2011 Vascular Annual ments have been remarkable, and Meeting®. the new SVS Foundation will The SVS Foundation will continue its mission by assuming all continue to be the focal point for its activities. advancing the role of vascular Because of the generosity of surgeons in clinical and vascular health medical translational research, activities so professionals, industry, and often dominated by non-surgeons. affiliated societies, the AVA has To ensure these important grants helped some of the specialty’s and scholarships are awarded current leaders advance their annually requires the commitment careers. Many of our most of the entire SVS membership, prominent surgeons have used their industry, and affiliated societies. As awards to conduct research that a specialty, it is our responsibility to improves the health of vascular lead in vascular health patients. We need to continue on management. this path. Dear Colleague: Your contributions fund clinical and translational research grants including: P Clinical research seed grants provide direct support for pilot clinical projects which have potential to grow into larger studies fundable by industry or governmental sources. P A clinical study planning grant supports development of all the components necessary for a competitive, multi-center clinical trial application. P Medical student and resident awards stimulate development of research skills and exploration of investigative careers. P Partner grants with the National Institutes of Health, the Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award and the Mentored PatientOriented Research Career Development Award, both directed at vascular surgeon scientists in the early stages of their careers. I want to thank everyone, including our industry partners and generous affiliate societies, for their loyalty and commitment to our future. We ask for their continued support. For those of you who have not yet contributed, I encourage you to take this request seriously and make a donation to the SVS Foundation. Your contribution is taxdeductable. Contributions may be made at www.SVSFoundationsite.org or by completing the contribution form included in this annual report. Sincerely, Robert M. Zwolak, MD Chair, SVS Foundation ® he SVS Foundation Awards were presented at the opening SVS session of the 2011 Vascular AnT nual Meeting. The SVS Foundation supports research in vascular disease. SVS Foundation/American College of Surgeons Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) Philip P. Goodney, MD (below middle), of Dartmouth Medical School, received the SVS Founda- ® P HOTOS : C ATHERINE H ARRELL /E LSEVIER G LOBAL M EDICAL N EWS 2011 SVS Foundation Awards tion/American College of Surgeons Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award. Dr. Goodney is shown with Robert M. Zwolak, MD (at left), and Alan Dardik, MD. EJ Wylie Traveling Fellowship Rabih A. Chaer, MD (middle), of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, received the EJ Wylie Traveling Fellowship from Dr. Zwolak and Dr. Dardik. The primary purpose of the fellowship is to provide an opportunity to visit a number of excellent vascular surgery centers in the United States and abroad. SVS Foundation Resident Research Prize Clay C. Quint, MD, PhD (middle), of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, received the SVS Foundation Resident Research Prize for his paper “Decellularized Human Tissue Engineered Vessel as an Arterial Conduit” from Dr. Zwolak and Dr. Dardik. The prize consists of a monetary award and a 1-year complimentary subscription to the Journal of Vascular Surgery. Dr. Quint presented his research at the Vascular Annual Meeting and it will be considered for publication in the journal. 10_11_12_13VS11_9.qxp 9/9/2011 12:02 PM Page 11 NEWS FROM THE SVS S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 • W W W. VA S C U L A R S P E C I A L I S T O N L I N E . C O M 11 T H E SVS F O U N D AT I O N ® A N N U A L R E P O R T 2011 SVS Foundation Grants to Future Leaders in Vascular Research SVS Foundation thanks the following individuals for their generous contributions made from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 Babak Abai, MD Christopher M. Abbot, MD Harry B. Abramowitz, MD Ali F. AbuRahma, MD John A. Adeniyi, MD Donald L. Akers, MD George Andros, MD Marvin D. Atkins, Jr., MD Arthur I. Auer, MD Mario H. Avila, MD J. Dennis Baker, MD William H. Baker, MD Jeffrey L. Ballard, MD Michael Belkin, MD Donald D. Bell, MD Marshall E. Benjamin, MD Thomas M. Bergamini, MD Victor M. Bernhard, MD Edwin G. Beven, MD James H. Black, III, MD John Blebea, MD Charles W. Bouch, MD Jason S. Burgess, MD Christopher H. Byrne, MD Phillip L. Cacioppo, MD Keith D. Calligaro, MD G. Patrick Clagett, MD Alexander W. Clowes, MD J. Louis Cohen, MD William B. Cohen, MD William Cole, MD Paul S. Collins, MD Michael S. Conte, MD David V. Cossman, MD Jack L. Cronenwett, MD John A. Curci, MD Michael A. Curi, MD Michael C. Dalsing, MD Alan Dardik, MD Herbert Dardik, MD James P. David, MD Mark G. Davies, MD, PhD Luis R. Davila-Santini, MD Giacomo A. DeLaria, MD Howard E. Denbo, MD Deepak Deshmukh, DO Magruder C. Donaldson, MD Joseph R. Durham, MD Matthew J. Eagleton, MD Luis G. Echeverri, MD John D. Edwards, MD Matthew S. Edwards, MD Ronald M. Fairman, MD Rumi Faizer, MD Antoine M. Ferneini, MD Thomas L. Forbes, MD David Fox, MD Randall W. Franz, MD Julie Ann Freischlag, MD Nicholas D. Garcia, MD Robert M. Gasior, MD Bruce L. Gewertz, MD Gary Giangola, MD Joseph S. Giglia, MD Peter Gloviczki, MD James M. Goff, Jr, MD John F. Golan, MD Philip P. Goodney, MD Wayne S. Gradman, MD Louie H. Griffin, MD Raul J. Guzman, MD Vivienne J. Halpern, MD Sachinder S. Hans, MD Linda M. Harris, MD Nancy L. Harthun, MD Robert W. Heidepriem, III, MD G. Ken Hempel, MD Peter K. Henke, MD Anil P. Hingorani, MD Robert W. Hopkins, MD Tam Huynh, MD Robert J. Hye, MD Mark D. Iafrati, MD Daniel M. Ihnat, MD Karl A. Illig, MD Eric C. Jaxheimer, MD K. Wayne Johnston, MD Clyde Kamm, MD Vikram S. Kashyap, MD Andres U. Katz, MD Steven G. Katz, MD Gregory J. Kechejian, MD Glenn L. Kelly, MD Melina R. Kibbe, MD Robert B. McLafferty, MD George H. Meier, MD Donna M. Mendes, MD Charles S. Mesh, MD Louis M. Messina, MD Joseph L. Mills, Jr., MD Erica L. Mitchell, MD Gregory L. Moneta, MD Satish Muluk, MD Richard F. Neville, MD Charles S. O’Mara, MD C. Keith Ozaki, MD Robert L. Kistner, MD Larry W. Kraiss, MD Marvin E. Kuehner, MD John A. Kutz, MD Christopher J. Kwolek, MD Gregory J. Landry, MD Peter Lawrence, MD Christopher J. LeCroy, MD Jason T. Lee, MD Stephen E. Lee, MD Scott A. LeMaire, MD Edward Li, MD Timothy K. Liem, MD Fred N. Littooy, MD Gregg L. Londrey, MD Graham W. Long, MD Joseph Magnant, MD Michel S. Makaroun, MD Rafael D. Malgor, MD M. Ashraf Mansour, MD Vito A. Mantese, MD Rebecca M. Maron, CAE Gordon H. Martin, MD Douglas W. Massop, MD John H. Matsuura, MD Kenneth M. McDonald, MD W. Burley McIntyre, MD Frank T. Padberg, MD Ramesh Paladugu, MD Richard C. Pennell, MD Juan Carlos Pereda, MD Bruce A. Perler, MD William C. Pevec, MD Ralph B. Pfeiffer, MD Ernest Poulos, MD C. Steven Powell, MD Kevin B. Raftery, MD Jeffrey K. Raines, MD, PhD Rajeev K. Rao, MD Jeffrey M. Rhodes, MD Norman M. Rich, MD Thomas S. Riles, MD Andrew B. Roberts, MD Sean P. Roddy, MD L. Richard Roedersheimer, MD Joel C. Rosenfeld, MD Matthew B. Rossi, MD Timothy S. Roush, MD Steven T. Ruby, MD Fred W. Rushton, Jr., MD Ulka Sachdev, MD Farouq Ali Samhouri, MD Richard J. Sanders, MD Bhagwan Satiani, MD Jon V. Schellack, MD Marc L. Schermerhorn, MD Thomas A. Schneider, MD Peter J. Schubart, MD Martin L. Schulman, MD Gary R. Seabrook, MD Piergiorgio G. Settembrini, MD Maureen K. Sheehan, MD Gregorio A. Sicard, MD Anton N. Sidawy, MD Michael J. Singh, MD Mahalingham Sivakumar, MD Christopher L. Skelly, MD Gus J. Slotman, MD W. Charles Sternbergh, III, MD David H. Stubbs, MD David S. Sumner, MD Bauer E. Sumpio, MD Anthony M. Sussman, MD Robert B. Swersky, MD Mellick T. Sykes, MD Gale L. Tang, MD Gary A. Tannenbaum, MD Jay Vasquez, MD James S. Wagner, MD Willis H. Wagner, MD Thomas W. Wakefield, MD Daniel B. Walsh, MD Shenming Wang, MD, PhD Dean H. Wasserman, MD Fred A. Weaver, MD Mell B. Wellborn III, MD John V. White, MD Anthony Whittemore, MD Richard A. Yaeger, MD Wei Zhou, MD Robert M. Zwolak, MD, PhD SVS Foundation Student Research Fellowships The following individuals received SVS Foundation Student Research Fellowships: Sara Bartlett Washington University, St. Louis, MO Julia Glaser Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA Calvin Harberg University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine, Madison, WI Matthew Huber University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Daniel Lee University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY John Mitchell University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE Doran Mix University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, MN Viraj Raygor University of California San Francisco, San Francisco ® 10_11_12_13VS11_9.qxp 12 9/9/2011 12:02 PM Page 12 NEWS FROM THE SVS SEPTEMBER 2011 • VASCULAR SPECIALIST T H E SVS F O U N D AT I O N ® A N N U A L R E P O R T 2011 Inspired by a Poster Award, Dr. Halpern Donates to SVS Foundation Foundation Development Committee. t was a poster award that inspired Dr. Halpern has provided financial Vivienne Halpern, MD, of Phoenix, support to SVS Foundation during the AZ, to support vascular research in general and the SVS Foundation in par- last four years. “I want to improve research funds for vasticular. “More than 10 cular research and years ago, I won a help up-and-coming poster award through ‘I WANT TO IMPROVE surgeon scientists,” the Eastern Vascular she said. “That’s why Society from the RESEARCH FUNDS FOR I donate to SVS William J. Von Liebig VASCULAR RESEARCH AND Foundation.” Foundation,” said Dr. Funds donated to Halpern. “This preHELP UP-AND-COMING the SVS Foundation dates the SVS FoundaSURGEON SCIENTISTS.’ by Dr. Halpern and tion, but the award others provide inspired me to do awards for clinical more.” and translational research. The funds A practicing vascular surgeon since enable researchers to develop new ad1998, Dr. Halpern became an active vances in vascular care. “To improve member of SVS in 2004. She donates the care of vascular patients and her time and has served on the SVS progress the field of vascular surgery Women’s Leadership Committee, the and vascular medicine, those are the Quality and Performance Measures Committee, the Public and Profession- reasons I contribute to SVS Foundation,” she said. al Outreach Committee, and the SVS ■ I Dr. Andros: An Ardent Supporter of SVS Foundation and translational research, harity begins at the SVS Foundation prohome,” said SVS “C vides the following clinical Member George Andros, The SVS Foundation® FY 2012 Budgeted Revenue and Expense MARCH 2011 TOTAL ASSETS: $5.2M* SVS Foundation Total Income Corporate support 19% Individual contributions 17% 64% Society contributions** Total Income $634,000 SVS Foundation Total Expenses Administration & governance 13% and translational research MD, of Los Angeles, CA. 3% grants: “Since SVS is my profesFundraising sional home, I support the P Clinical research seed 84% future of my profession by grants Career development donating to the SVS FounP Clinical study planning awards dation.” grant Total Expenses For years, Dr. Andros P Medical student and resi$491,800 has generously supported dent awards SVS Foundation research GEORGE ANDROS, MD P Partner grants. Source: Society for Vascular Surgery efforts. He has donated his “In order to continue to time, talents, and treasure to the Foun- advance the science of vascular redation since the days in which it was search, I encourage all SVS members *includes cash, investments, and value of pledges of future support **includes SVS, ACS, and regional society contributions known as the American Vascular Foun- to donate to the SVS Foundation,” said dation / Lifeline Foundation. That Dr. Andros. “It is through support for name began in 1989. our Foundation that SVS will remain at In 2004, the foundation became the forefront of vascular research.” ■ known as the AVA Foundation. Today, it’s the SVS Foundation. To Dr. Andros, the name of the Foundation is irrelevant. He remains an ardent supporter. SVS Foundation thanks the following P Medtronic “I served on the AVA Foundation’s corporations and societies for their generous P New England Vascular Surgical Society Executive Committee from 2007 to 2009,” said Dr. Andros. “Many of my contributions made from April 1, 2010 to P GE Healthcare colleagues have been Foundation March 31, 2011 P Philips Healthcare award recipients and have benefitted P Atrium P Siemens from the assistance provided.” P American College of Surgeons P Spectranetics As the focal point for advancing the role of vascular surgeons in clinical P Cook Medical P W.L. Gore & Associates P Eastern Vascular Society P Western Vascular Society P Massachusetts General Hospital, Division P von Liebig Foundation ® SVS Foundation Thanks Organizational Donors of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Dr. Richard Cambria, Chief 10_11_12_13VS11_9.qxp 9/9/2011 12:03 PM Page 13 NEWS FROM THE SVS S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 • W W W. VA S C U L A R S P E C I A L I S T O N L I N E . C O M 13 T H E SVS F O U N D AT I O N ® A N N U A L R E P O R T 2011 Support the Hobson Resident Research Fund presented to an outstanding vascular or general surgery resident. The SVS Foundation Resident Research Prize is funded with a principal of $100,000. A portion of the Hobson Resident Research Fund has been raised. Additional contributions will keep alive Dr. Hobson’s dreams for vascular surgery. Hobson Resident Research Fund contributors are listed with the SVS Foundation individual donors. The SVS Foundation contribution form in this annual report may be used to make a donation to the Hobson Resident Research Fund. Online donations are welcome at www. Robert Hobson, MD, is shown during his days in SVSFoundationsite.org. the United States military. ■ he Hobson Resident Research Fund was established by the New Jersey Medical School Vascular Alumni in honor of Robert Hobson II, MD, for his dedication to future vascular and general surgeons. Contributions to the fund enable young surgeons to continue their vascular research efforts. It endows the SVS Foundation Resident Research Prize, an annual $5,000 award C OURTESY SVS T Dr. John Blebea ‘Gives Back’ to SVS Foundation ment,” said Dr. Blebea. “Giving to the SVS Foundation is a form of thanksgiving from the Lifeline Founand a contribution dation in for the future and 2001,” said those who follow in John Blebea, our footsteps.” MD, of Dr. Blebea has doCleveland, nated to SVS FounOH. “The award prodation for the past vided funds to continue six years. “It is critiresearch on ultrasound cal for our success diagnosis and developas a specialty and for ment of an implantable JOHN BLEBEA, MD the care of our paflow sensor. This intertients, that we support research at est continues with the hope for huboth the clinical and basic research man trials in the near future.” To “give back” to the Foundation, levels,” he said. “The most effective way of doDr. Blebea became a financial ing this on the national level is donor. “Although we are asked to donate through a donation to the SVS Foundation.” to many worthwhile causes, we ■ should also allocate a portion of our ® charitable giving to our specialty because it has provided us with both our economic sustenance as well as personal and professional fulfillwas fortunate to have received a “I clinical research award Donation I wish to make a voluntary contribution to further the mission of the SVS Foundation through a contribution of: P$2,500 P$1,000 P$250 POther:_______________ P$500 Name as you wish to be recognized Support Vascular Surgery Research Address City/State/Zip Telephone The SVS® Foundation awards grants to young vascular surgeon scientists to help develop their careers in research. Contributions to the SVS Foundation are used to award these grants to promising, young surgeons to create a foundation for significant research accomplishment as their careers mature. It is the focal point for advancing the role of vascular surgeons in clinical and translational research, activities so often dominated by non-surgeons. The SVS Foundation replaces and assumes all of the activities of the American Vascular Association® (AVA) and consolidates the clinical and translational research grants that were previously administered by the SVS and AVA including: Clinical Research Seed Grants Email Payment Pay Donation by Check Make check payable to: SVS Foundation Mail check and donation SVS Foundation form to: 35312 Eagle Way Chicago, IL 60678-1353 Pay Donation by Credit Card Make donation online at svsfoundationsite.org Or fax completed form to 312-334-2320 A Clinical Study Planning Grant Medical Student and Resident Awards Partner Grants with the National Institutes of Health Name on Card Cardholder Signature Credit Card Number Expiration Date CSC Number Thank you for your generosity UÊ9 ÕÀÊV ÌÀLÕÌ Ê>ÞÊLiÊÌ>Ý`i`ÕVÌLi° Please contact your tax advisor for assistance. UÊ-6-Ê Õ`>Ì Ê/>ÝÊÊ ÕLiÀÊÊä{ÎxnääÎn UÊ/ Ê>iÊ}vÌÃÊ vÊÃiVÕÀÌiÃ]Ê«i>ÃiÊÌii« iÊΣÓÎÎ{ÓÎää 14_15VS11_9.qxp 9/9/2011 12:06 PM Page 14 DEVICES, DRUGS & TRIALS 14 SEPTEMBER 2011 • VASCULAR SPECIALIST CLINICAL TRIALS TRACK FDA Emphasizes Randomized, Blinded Trials for Devices BY JESSICA BYLANDER “The Pink Sheet” linical studies in support of premarket approval applications should ideally be randomized and blinded, the Food and Drug Administration maintains in recent draft guidance for sponsors and staff to help researchers and manufacturers design better quality clinical trials for device submissions. The draft guidance spells out different clinical study designs that may be appropriate to support device approval, includ- C VOL. 6 • NO. 5 • MAY 2010 ® L ICIA OFF PER THE SPA E NEW OF TH I N D E S I ction Predi in Preeoop for SSIs ry s Toool lar Surienge t factor pat Vascu invasive ® THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE VOL. 6 • NO. 7 • JULY 2010 point View n Veith’s Spi hi otids are being spun Surb Carresult Dr. said bias (CEA T iates nts, which eye of the CRES patie her assoc nnial , the ding on risk the Dece ce on ha and depen exists in k J. Veith Leek poster at Conferen InfecC I N S I D E TU or CAS) says Fran n. • 4 E. Ne ws ated shown in a national M Results calare ssoci beholder,, in his colum RIA MI l Medi clockwise from BY M.D. n Inter thcare-A Globa ly used THE Newss N New vier ictio left: Heal OFFIC Else common the NaNews A prednvasive tions. 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Open Approac Mesenteric h Still Us Scoring Misses Trauma eful Mortality Risk r copy for youline. On month next ecialist e-mail lar Sp your Vascu Watchthe June of AR S bia Rd., nd flr. 60 Colum B, 2 NJ 07960 Bldg. istown, Morr VASCUL PECIAL EVAR Be tte IST CHAN r for So REQ E REQU ICE GE SERV Lebanon ESTE D Watch your e-mail next month for your copy of the August Vascular Specialist Online. me Inf ected AAs Bldg. B, 2 flr. Morristown, NJ 07960 nd 60 Columbia Rd., VASCU ASCULAR L LAR SPECIALIST CHANGE SERVICE R REQUESTED d Standard Presorte Postage U.S. PAID 384 No. KY Permit Jct. Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 384 Lebanon Jct. KY Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit LebanonNo. 384 Jct. KY SPECIALIST 60 Columb Bldg. B, nd ia Rd., Morrist 2 flr. own, NJ 07960 E SERVIC E REQUES TED CHANG VASCULAR Your Source For Watch you the Octor e-mail nex t mon ber Vas cular Spe th for your link cialist Online. to Specialty Specific News & Meeting Coverage ELSEVIER w w w. v a s c u l a r s p e c i a l i s t o n l i n eSOCIETY . c oGROUP m NEWS ing the advantages and disadvantages of each. But the FDA emphasized randomized, blinded (or masked) trials above all else, as other study designs may provide less robust evidence and introduce bias. These study designs, however, are generally the most expensive to carry out and difficult to enroll. The FDA’s guidance acknowledges these studies might not be practical, feasible, or even ethical in all cases. In those situations, the onus is on the sponsor to justify why an alternative study design was chosen and how it will adequately control bias, the draft guidance emphasizes. Some in the medical community have been critical of the relatively small proportion of premarket approval (PMA) pivotal trials that are randomized, controlled studies. The guidelines apply mainly to PMA device trials, but could also inform the design of clinical trials for 510(k) devices, the FDA suggests. Pivotal studies are meant to determine whether a new device is reasonably safe and effective, and whether the probable benefits outweigh the potential risks. The FDA is addressing what specific factors go into its risk-benefit determinations in separate draft guidance also issued Aug. 15. Comparative studies generally provide a higher level of evidence than single- arm trials, the clinical trials draft guidance explains. Comparative trials may be parallel design, in which comparisons are made between groups treated with different therapies; paired, in which each subject receives all of the interventions or tests at the same time, such as with a “splitface” test where each side of the face is treated with a different device; or crossover, in which each subject receives two or more interventions at different, predetermined time points. These study designs may be randomized or nonrandomized, but randomized, double-blinded, controlled studies are preferred, the FDA maintains. The FDA recommends the device be compared with an active control, such as another effective therapy; or a placebo control, such as an ineffective device used in conditions that mimic the investigational device as much as possible. “Deviation from this study design is especially problematic in situations where there is a possible placebo effect,” the guidance notes. The FDA also prefers that pivotal trials be masked, or blinded, meaning participants in the trial have limited knowledge as to which intervention they were assigned. “If study participants are not masked, it is very difficult to assess the size of the resulting bias, and it can threaten the scientific validity of an otherwise solid study, even when a truly objective end point is used,” the guidance states. If the trial subjects and investigators cannot be masked, the FDA strongly recommends that independent, third-party evaluators of the study measurements or end points be denied knowledge of the intervention assignment. “Even if it is inconvenient or difficult, FDA recommends that masking be considered and attempted, if at all possible,” the guidance notes. But a range of other study options are available to sponsors who cannot conduct the ideal trial, the guidance clarifies. In any case, the FDA strongly recommends that sponsors consult with the agency about trial design in a pre-submission meeting. The sponsor’s investigational device exemption application should include not only the details of the proposed study design and why it was chosen, but also an explanation of alternative study designs that were considered and why they were deemed “inappropriate, impractical, or not possible,” the guidance states. This coverage is provided courtesy of “The Pink Sheet.” This news organization and “The Pink Sheet” are owned by Elsevier. ■ Dalcetrapib Boosts HDL Without Bumping BP B Y P AT R I C E W E N D L I N G Else vier Global Medical Ne ws PARIS – The investigational cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor dalcetrapib increased HDL cholesterol without the toxic effects that have raised safety concerns over the use of CETP inhibitors as a cardiovascular therapy. Dalcetrapib reduced CETP activity by 49% and increased HDL cholesterol by 31% without affecting LDL cholesterol among patients with or at risk of coronary heart disease in the randomized phase II dal-VESSEL trial. Dalcetrapib did not cause endothelial dysfunction nor did it improve it. Unlike the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib, dalcetrapib did not raise blood pressure, providing further reassurance regarding the safety of the compound, Dr. Thomas Lüscher said at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology. “I think we can say it’s safe and has no untoward effects like the others, and it does the job as far as the lipid profile is concerned,” he told reporters. “It’s a bit less potent than torcetrapib, which increased HDL by about 60% to 70%, but [it] may be that’s even an advantage. We’ll see.” Dr. Lüscher said it was a bit disappointing that dalcetrapib (manufactured by Hoffmann-La Roche) did not improve vascular function, but noted that it was not worsened either. Whether the novel CETP inhibitor will have an effect on cardiovascular events will be determined by the phase III dal-OUTCOMES trial, with results expected sometime in 2013, said Dr. Lüscher, professor and chair of cardiology at University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. A total of 15,872 patients with stable heart disease following a recent acute coronary event have been enrolled, according to the drug maker’s website. Invited discussant Dr. Keith A. A. Fox, with the University of Edinburgh/British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, said the positive dal-VESSEL data represent a “clear advance,” but urged caution because of the limited size of the trial. ‘I think we can “We need to know whether say it’s safe and the modest changes in blood has no untoward pressure are real or have an imeffects like the others, and it does pact on outcomes,” he said. The recent DEFINE trial of the job as far as Merck’s CETP inhibitor anacethe lipid profile.’ trapib, however, illustrates the very real difficulties in achieving DR. LÜSCHER this goal. Anacetrapib raised HDL cholesterol 138% and reduced LDL cholesterol by 40% compared with placebo, but did not reduce cardiovascular events in 1,623 patients with or at high risk for coronary heart disease (N. Engl. J. Med. 2010;363:2406-15). Torcetrapib, the first CTEP to be tested, increased HDL cholesterol by 61% and decreased LDL cholesterol by 20%, but was associated with a roughly 4.6 mm Hg increase in blood pressure (N. Engl. J. Med. 2007;356:1304-16). Development of the agent came to a screeching halt, however, when the ILLUMINATE trial subsequently reported that torcetrapib also increased the risk of cardiovascular events by 25% and all-cause mortality by 58% in patients at high cardiovascular risk (N. Engl. J. Med. 2007;357:2109-22). Further research suggested that the negative effects were caused not by reducing CTEP activity, but by offtarget effects on renal glands, diminished nitrous oxide levels, and increased endothelin-1, Dr. Lüscher explained. The dal-VESSEL study was conducted at 19 centers in Europe and randomized 476 patients with coronary heart disease or CHD risk equivalents and HDL cholesterol of less than 50 mg/dL to dalcetrapib 600 mg/day or placebo plus their standard medication for a total of 36 weeks. Endothelial function was measured at 12 weeks using brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a validated marker of endothelial dysfunction. Their mean age was 62 years, and roughly 97% were on statins, according to the researchers. The mean change in HDL cholesterol from baseline at week 4 was 2.7% for placebo and 27.5% for dalcetrapib; at week 36 it was –0.14% vs. 30.7%, respectively (P less than .0001 for both), Dr. Lüscher said. At 36 weeks lipoprotein A-1 levels were significantly increased with dalcetrapib, but lipoprotein B levels were not affected. There was no significant change with dalcetrapib in the co-primary safety endpoints of 24-hour ambulatory BP at week 4 and FMD at week 12. Death from coronary heart disease occurred in one patient given placebo and none given dalcetrapib. Nonfatal myocardial infarctions were reported in 3 and 2 patients, respectively. The trial was sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche. Dr. Lüscher reports receiving research grants from Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Merck and consultancy or lecture fees from CSL, Merck, Pfizer and F. Hoffmann-La Roche. ■ 14_15VS11_9.qxp 9/9/2011 12:06 PM Page 15 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 • W W W. VA S C U L A R S P E C I A L I S T O N L I N E . C O M DEVICES, DRUGS & TRIALS 15 Scar Prevention ‘Band-Aid’ Shows Early Promise BY DOUG BRUNK N EODYNE B IOSCIENCES, I NC. Else vier Global Medical Ne ws P HOTOS tion and fibrosis can be reduced by altering the mechanical environment of wounds, results from a phase I study found. At the Summit in Aesthetic Medicine, sponsored by Skin Disease Education Foundation (SDEF), Dr. Geoffrey C. Gurtner presented findings from a study in which nine patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were treated postoperatively with a stressshielding polymer on one side while the other side was treated with standard wound care. The device, manufactured by Neodyne Biosciences, looks like a Band-Aid strip and is stretched over the incision after sutures are removed. It conforms to the wound and adheres to skin, creating “a compressive region that has no level of mechanical stimulation or distractive strain,” said Dr. Gurtner, professor of surgery at Stanford (Calif.) University. “Essentially, you create stress risers in the unwounded skin and a mechanically privileged environment in the wounded skin.” A panel of three independent plastic surgeons reviewed 18 photos of the scars (nine treated, nine control) taken 6-12 COURTESY DANA POINT, CALIF. – Scar forma- Half of the surgical scar was treated with standard protocols as shown above. The surgical area 8 months later is shown after polymer treatment. months after surgery. They used a visual analog scale (VAS) that ranged from 0 (very good scar) to 100 (very poor hypertrophic scar). Dr. Gurtner reported that the average VAS score in the treated group was 18.6, while the average VAS score in the control group was 50.5, a difference that was statistically significant (P = .0039) (Ann. Surg. 2011 May 19 [doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e318220b159]). “In none of the cases was the treated scar worse than the control scar, which I think is different than some of the biologic agents we’ve seen over the last few years,” he said. A panel of lay persons who reviewed the photos reported similar results that favored the treated group (P = .004). In earlier mouse studies of wound environment manipulation, Dr. Gurtner and his associates found that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a critical regulator in the formation of hypertrophic scars. He described FAK as “a molecule that exists on the inner surface of cell membranes and transmits forces that are set in the external extracellular matrix to the inside of the cell. FAK transmits those forces into biological or biochemical cues that then turn on genes in the nucleus and make the cells do different things. This seems to be a very important mol- Indications The Endurant® Stent Graft System is indicated for the endovascular treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic or aorto-iliac aneurysms in patients with the following characteristics: t "EFRVBUFJMJBDGFNPSBMBDDFTTUIBUJTDPNQBUJCMFXJUIWBTDVMBSBDDFTT UFDIOJRVFTEFWJDFTBOEPSBDDFTTPSJFT t 1SPYJNBMOFDLMFOHUIPGŻNN t *OGSBSFOBMOFDLBOHVMBUJPOPGź¡ t %JTUBMöYBUJPOMFOHUIPGŻNN t "PSUJDOFDLEJBNFUFSTXJUIBSBOHFPGUPNN t *MJBDEJBNFUFSTXJUIBSBOHFPGUPNN t .PSQIPMPHZTVJUBCMFGPSBOFVSZTNSFQBJS Contraindications The Endurant Stent Graft System is contraindicated in: t 1BUJFOUTXIPIBWFBDPOEJUJPOUIBUUISFBUFOTUPJOGFDUUIFHSBGU t 1BUJFOUTXJUITFOTJUJWJUJFTPSBMMFSHJFTUPUIFEFWJDFNBUFSJBMT Warnings and Precautions t 5IFMPOHUFSNTBGFUZBOEFòFDUJWFOFTTPGUIF&OEVSBOU4UFOU(SBGU 4ZTUFNIBTOPUCFFOFTUBCMJTIFE"MMQBUJFOUTTIPVMECFBEWJTFEUIBU FOEPWBTDVMBSUSFBUNFOUSFRVJSFTMJGFMPOHSFHVMBSGPMMPXVQUPBTTFTT the health and the performance of the implanted endovascular stent HSBGU1BUJFOUTXJUITQFDJöDDMJOJDBMöOEJOHTFHFOEPMFBLTFOMBSHJOH aneurysms or changes in the structure or position of the endovasDVMBSHSBGU TIPVMESFDFJWFFOIBODFEGPMMPXVQ4QFDJöDGPMMPXVQ guidelines are described in the *OTUSVDUJPOTGPS6TF t 1BUJFOUTFYQFSJFODJOHSFEVDFECMPPEøPXUISPVHIUIFHSBGUMJNC BOFVSZTNFYQBOTJPOBOEQFSTJTUFOUFOEPMFBLTNBZCFSFRVJSFEUP VOEFSHPTFDPOEBSZJOUFSWFOUJPOTPSTVSHJDBMQSPDFEVSFT t t t t 5IF&OEVSBOU4UFOU(SBGU4ZTUFNJTOPUSFDPNNFOEFEJOQBUJFOUT unable to undergo or who will not be compliant with the necessary preoperative and postoperative imaging and implantation studies as described in the *OTUSVDUJPOTGPS6TF 3FOBMDPNQMJDBUJPOTNBZPDDVS 'SPNBOFYDFTTVTFPGDPOUSBTU BHFOUT "TBSFTVMUPGFNCPMJPSBNJTQMBDFETUFOUHSBGU5IF SBEJPQBRVFNBSLFSBMPOHUIFFEHFPGUIFTUFOUHSBGUTIPVMECF BMJHOFEJNNFEJBUFMZCFMPXUIFMPXFSNPTUSFOBMBSUFSJBMPSJHJO 4UVEJFTJOEJDBUFUIBUUIFEBOHFSPGNJDSPFNCPMJ[BUJPOJODSFBTFTXJUI JODSFBTFEEVSBUJPOPGUIFQSPDFEVSF 5IFTBGFUZBOEFòFDUJWFOFTTPGUIF&OEVSBOU4UFOU(SBGU4ZTUFNIBT OPUCFFOFWBMVBUFEJOTPNFQBUJFOUQPQVMBUJPOT1MFBTFSFGFSUPUIF product *OTUSVDUJPOTGPS6TFGPSEFUBJMT MRI Safety and Compatibility Non-clinical testing has demonstrated that the Endurant Stent Graft is .3$POEJUJPOBM*UDBOCFTDBOOFETBGFMZJOCPUI55.3TZTUFNT under certain conditions as described in the product *OTUSVDUJPOTGPS 6TF'PSBEEJUJPOBMJOGPSNBUJPOSFHBSEJOH.3*QMFBTFSFGFSUPUIFQSPEVDU *OTUSVDUJPOTGPS6TF Adverse Events 1PUFOUJBMBEWFSTFFWFOUTJODMVEFBSSBOHFEJOBMQIBCFUJDBMPSEFS "NQVUBUJPO"OFTUIFUJDDPNQMJDBUJPOTBOETVCTFRVFOUBUUFOEBOUQSPCMFNT FHBTQJSBUJPO "OFVSZTNFOMBSHFNFOU"OFVSZTNSVQUVSFBOEEFBUI "PSUJDEBNBHFJODMVEJOHQFSGPSBUJPOEJTTFDUJPOCMFFEJOHSVQUVSF BOEEFBUI"SUFSJBMPSWFOPVTUISPNCPTJTBOEPSQTFVEPBOFVSZTN "SUFSJPWFOPVTöTUVMB#MFFEJOHIFNBUPNBPSDPBHVMPQBUIZ#PXFM DPNQMJDBUJPOTFHJMFVTUSBOTJFOUJTDIFNJBJOGBSDUJPOOFDSPTJT $BSEJBD DPNQMJDBUJPOTBOETVCTFRVFOUBUUFOEBOUQSPCMFNTFHBSSIZUINJB www.medtronicendovascular.com/endurant Medtronic CardioVascular 6OPDBM1MBDF 4BOUB3PTB$" 64" 5FM Product Services Support Center 5FM 'BY CardioVascular LifeLine Customer Support 5FM 5FM 'PSEJTUSJCVUJPOJOUIF64"POMZª.FEUSPOJD*OD"MMSJHIUTSFTFSWFE 1SJOUFEJO64"6$&/ ecule in the ability of us to produce hypertrophic scars in mice. If you take out FAK, you can prevent hypertrophic scar formation.” FAK is a target that has been examined extensively in cancer, Dr. Gurtner said, suggesting that in the next few years, “We should have products that will not only be able to treat incision wounds but will also be able to treat large burn injuries. You need to fool the cells into thinking they’re in a different mechanical environment, either by using small molecule or pharmacologic blocking therapies such as fat inhibitors, or by using biomaterials that provide cues in a controlled way that minimize the amount of mechanical stimulation that the fibroblasts feel in the healing wound so as to mitigate the inflammation and subsequent fibrosis.” The study was supported by a Wallace H. Coulter Translational Partners Grant; the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine; the Hagey Family Endowed Fund in Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine; and the Oak Foundation. Neodyne Biosciences supplied the surgical dressings used in the study. Dr. Gurtner disclosed that he holds an equity interest in Neodyne. SDEF and this news organization are owned by Elsevier. ■ NZPDBSEJBMJOGBSDUJPODPOHFTUJWFIFBSUGBJMVSFIZQPUFOTJPOIZQFSUFOTJPO $MBVEJDBUJPOFHCVUUPDLMPXFSMJNC %FBUI&EFNB&NCPMJ[BUJPO NJDSPBOENBDSP XJUIUSBOTJFOUPSQFSNBOFOUJTDIFNJBPSJOGBSDUJPO &OEPMFBL'FWFSBOEMPDBMJ[FEJOøBNNBUJPO(FOJUPVSJOBSZDPNQMJDBUJPOT BOETVCTFRVFOUBUUFOEBOUQSPCMFNTFHJTDIFNJBFSPTJPOöTUVMB JODPOUJOFODFIFNBUVSJBJOGFDUJPO )FQBUJDGBJMVSF*NQPUFODF*OGFDUJPO PGUIFBOFVSZTNEFWJDFBDDFTTTJUFJODMVEJOHBCTDFTTGPSNBUJPOUSBOTJFOU GFWFSBOEQBJO-ZNQIBUJDDPNQMJDBUJPOTBOETVCTFRVFOUBUUFOEBOU QSPCMFNTFHMZNQIöTUVMB /FVSPMPHJDMPDBMPSTZTUFNJDDPNQMJDBUJPOT BOETVCTFRVFOUBUUFOEBOUQSPCMFNTFHDPOGVTJPOTUSPLFUSBOTJFOU JTDIFNJDBUUBDLQBSBQMFHJBQBSBQBSFTJTQBSBMZTJT 0DDMVTJPOPGEFWJDF PSOBUJWFWFTTFM1VMNPOBSZDPNQMJDBUJPOTBOETVCTFRVFOUBUUFOEBOU QSPCMFNT3FOBMDPNQMJDBUJPOTBOETVCTFRVFOUBUUFOEBOUQSPCMFNT FHBSUFSZPDDMVTJPODPOUSBTUUPYJDJUZJOTVóDJFODZGBJMVSF 4UFOUHSBGU improper component placement; incomplete component deployment; DPNQPOFOUNJHSBUJPOTVUVSFCSFBLPDDMVTJPOJOGFDUJPOTUFOUGSBDUVSF HSBGUUXJTUJOHBOEPSLJOLJOHJOTFSUJPOBOESFNPWBMEJóDVMUJFTHSBGU NBUFSJBMXFBSEJMBUBUJPOFSPTJPOQVODUVSFBOEQFSJHSBGUøPX4VSHJDBM DPOWFSTJPOUPPQFOSFQBJS7BTDVMBSBDDFTTTJUFDPNQMJDBUJPOTJODMVEJOH JOGFDUJPOQBJOIFNBUPNBQTFVEPBOFVSZTNBSUFSJPWFOPVTöTUVMBEJTTFDUJPO 7BTDVMBSTQBTNPSWBTDVMBSUSBVNBFHJMJPGFNPSBMWFTTFMEJTTFDUJPOCMFFEJOH SVQUVSFEFBUI 7FTTFMEBNBHF8PVOEDPNQMJDBUJPOTBOETVCTFRVFOU BUUFOEBOUQSPCMFNTFHEFIJTDFODFJOGFDUJPOIFNBUPNBTFSPNBDFMMVMJUJT 1MFBTFSFGFSFODFQSPEVDU*OTUSVDUJPOTGPS6TF for more information regarding JOEJDBUJPOTXBSOJOHTQSFDBVUJPOTDPOUSBJOEJDBUJPOTBOEBEWFSTFFWFOUT CAUTION'FEFSBM64" MBXSFTUSJDUTUIJTEFWJDFUPTBMFCZPSPOUIF PSEFSPGBQIZTJDJBO VAS_16.qxp 1/3/2011 12:50 PM Page 1 Endurant ® A A A S T E N T G R A F T S YS T E M F R O M T H E E V E R Y D AY TO THE EXTRAORDINARY ENDURANT empowers you to create stronger outcomes for more patients, including those otherwise ineligible for EVAR. For a graft that is simple to control, provides greater access and durability, and conforms to a broader range of anatomies, Endurant is the One. Here to deliver. F R O M © 2010 Medtronic, Inc. UC201103222 EN P I P E L I N E T O PAT I E N T Get right to your solution at medtronicendovascular.com/endurant