First patient enrolled in Wrapsody endoprosthesis registry study

Merit Medical has announced the successful enrollment of the first patient in its WRAP registry study in a press release. The study will evaluate the clinical benefits associated with the use of the Wrapsody cell-impermeable endoprosthesis in patients receiving hemodialysis…
New sirolimus data provide encouragement despite ‘potentially disappointing’ efficacy results

The results of a small-scale pilot study from Asia have indicated “potentially disappointing” results with a novel drug-eluting balloon in treating dysfunctional arteriovenous access for dialysis. These findings were delivered by Tjun Tang, MD—who also highlighted “excellent” technical and clinical…
CX 2022: IN.PACT AV DCB shows sustained and superior performance compared to PTA through three years

New randomized controlled data demonstrating the sustained and superior performance of IN.PACT AV drug-coated balloons (DCBs) compared to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) through 36 months, with no difference in mortality, was revealed during a Podium 1st presentation at the 2022 Charing…
Houston, we have a dialysis access problem

The concept of dedicated vascular access centers fuels a turbocharged Texan tussle with Karl Illig, MD, of Flow Vascular Institute in Houston, taking on Eric Peden, MD, an associate professor of cardiovascular surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital, in a no-holds-barred debate…
First-in-human study of Wrapsody endoprosthesis yields ‘very promising’ results

Merit Medical Systems has announced positive results from a prospective, observational, first-in-human study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Wrapsody—a self-expanding, cell-impermeable endoprosthesis designed for the treatment of arteriovenous (AV) fistula access circuit stenosis and AV graft access circuit…
CMS creates new billing code for central venous vascular access system

Bluegrass Vascular Technologies announced today that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code and New Technology Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) assignment for use of the Surfacer Inside-Out Access…
AVFs contribute to higher survival of hemodialysis patients with COVID-19

A new study, published online in The Journal of Vascular Access (JVA), suggests that arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) contribute to higher survival of hemodialysis patients with COVID-19. Authors Ahmet Murt, MD, of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey, and colleagues urge that end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients “should…
Enrollment starts in postmarket studies of WavelinQ endoAVF system

Enrollment has begun and the first patients have been treated in the postmarket surveillance study, CONNECT-AV, of the WavelinQ (BD) endovascular arteriovenous fistula (endoAVF) system. CONNECT-AV is a prospective, single-arm, open-label study that will follow patients treated with WavelinQ (BD)…
Wearable device for AV fistula remote monitoring shows promise—but faces commercial challenges

A new wearable device designed to remotely monitor arteriovenous (AV) fistulae function in dialysis access patients uncovered promising data, leading one set of researchers to conclude the technology offers hope for improved care and lower costs among a challenging patient…
COVID-related hypercoagulability linked to elevated malfunction rate in temporary hemodialysis catheters

Hypercoagulability in COVID-19 patients leads to an increase in the malfunction rate of temporary hemodialysis catheters—but heparin locking of the catheters is linked to decreased malfunction rates. Those are among the main findings of a study recently published in the…

