The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has released updated clinical practice guidelines accompanied by an implementation document on the management of patients with extracranial carotid artery disease. The documents, both published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, aim to use the existing clinical evidence to ensure patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease in the carotid arteries receive appropriate treatment and care.

A new study, published online in The Journal of Vascular Access(JVA), suggests that arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) contribute to higher survival of haemodialysis patients with COVID-19. Authors Ahmet Murt (Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey) and colleagues urge that end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients “should be given the opportunity to have their vascular access properly created,” even in the pandemic era.

Prytime Medical has announced the closing of a US$6 million inside financing round to support commercialisation of its resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA)haemorrhage control products.

Royal Philips recently announced positive two-year results from the TOBA (Tack optimised balloon angioplasty) II below-the-knee (BTK) clinical trial.

Cardiovascular Systems has announced that the full line of OrbusNeich Jade percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) over-the-wire (OTW) balloon catheters is now available in the USA. Cardiovascular Systems is the exclusive US distributor of OrbusNeich balloon products.

Simulators have long been used for training surgeons and surgical teams, but traditional simulator platforms typically have a built-in limitation: they often simulate one or a limited number of conditions that require performance of isolated tasks, such as placing an intravenous catheter, instead of simulating and providing opportunities for feedback on the performance of multiple interventions that a trauma victim may require at the same time. To overcome this limitation, the Advanced Modular Manikin (AMM), an innovative simulation platform that allows integration of other simulation devices, was developed and field testing was conducted, with support from the Department of Defense (DoD).

The first detailed surgical results from the UK National Health Service (NHS) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme (NAAASP) show that, over a seven-year period, the turn down rate after referral for treatment with a screen-detected AAA and perioperative mortality were low. However, the data also reveal that there remains “considerable” variation between local screening programmes in the proportion undergoing endovascular repair. These findings were published in the February edition of the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (EJVES).

Inovise Medical has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough device designation for its Audicor heart failure management system. The system uses clinically-tested algorithms to detect the risk of decompensation at home in patients who have been previously hospitalized for heart failure.

Access Vascular has announced US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its HydroMID midline catheter.

According to the AMBUVASC randomised controlled trial (RCT), outpatient hospitalisation is not cost-effective compared with inpatient hospitalisation for endovascular repair of patients with claudication at a €50,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) threshold. Yann Gouëffic (Groupement Hôpitalier Paris St Joseph, Paris, France) and colleagues caution against generalisation of their conclusion. “The findings depend on the specific organisation in France,” they state, “where the two procedures are performed within the same institution”.

Exercise can play an important role in treating peripheral arterial disease(PAD), a recent review from Amy Harwood (Centre for Sport and Exercise Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK) et al, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, shows. The review concluded that, for people with PAD, exercise programmes may help improve walking ability and quality of life by relieving symptoms of leg pain, cramps, and fatigue.

Writing for Cardiovascular News, Harold Dauerman, Rony Lahoud and Newton Phuong from the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, USA reflect on the implications of the POPular TAVI trial and how it is shaping approaches to antiplatelet therapy after TAVI.