In May, the most popular stories from Interventional News included a recent investigation into ChatGPT and patient perception of interventional radiology (IR); interventional radiologists speak on their experience of private practice in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region; and scientific reports from the European Conference of Interventional Oncology (ECIO) annual meeting (28 April–1 May 2024, Palma de Mallorca, Spain).
Preliminary results from the largest global liver venous deprivation (LVD) registry—EuroLVD—confirms “high” hypertrophy and kinetic growth rate and “very low” rate of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), demonstrating the “safety” of LVD over portal vein embolization (PVE) in a real-world, multicentre setting.
2. First multi-society summit addresses the wants, needs and demands of IR on the global stage
During the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) annual scientific meeting (23–28 March, Salt Lake City, USA), interventional radiology (IR) societies from nations worldwide sat around a table to consider the status of IR in their geographies. The Global Society Summit—the first meeting of its kind—heard international IR leaders discuss and define common challenges, to track a path for multinational collaboration and sustain a unified voice for IR in an increasingly competitive global healthcare environment.
3. The SEO of IR: ChatGPT offers “exciting” data for patient perception and referral
Using Chat generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) to understand the public perception of interventional radiology (IR), Chloe Cross (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA) and colleagues presented new data which provide “exciting” insights into how and when IR is suggested for treatment for patients using artificial intelligence (AI).
4. Merit Medical announces US FDA 510(k) clearance of Siege vascular plug
Merit Medical Systems, a global leader of healthcare technology, has announced US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its Siege vascular plug. Merit also announced the launch of its Bearing non-spherical polyvinyl alcohol (nsPVA) Express prefilled syringe in the USA and Australia.
5. AngioDynamics announces CE mark approval for AlphaVac system
AngioDynamics has announced European CE mark approval of the AlphaVac F1885 system for the non-surgical removal of thrombi or emboli from the pulmonary arteries and for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE).
Jack Jennings is a professor of radiology and chief of musculoskeletal radiology for Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, USA. Best known for his innovation in musculoskeletal and spine interventions, Jennings is no stranger to blending niches, combining skills gained from his experiences in interventional radiology (IR), neuroradiology, and musculoskeletal radiology for a range of tumours in the bone, spine and soft tissue.
7. The double-edged sword of private practice in the MENA region
Interventional radiologists Mohammed Almoaiqel (King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Karim Abd El Tawab (Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt) and Mohammad Al-Twalah (Dawali Clinic, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) speak to Interventional News about the pros and cons of private practice in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, surveying the spectrum of opportunities and challenges faced by interventionists today.
8. Fluidx Medical announces US FDA approval for embolic device clinical trial
Fluidx Medical Technology has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted investigational device exemption (IDE) approval to initiate the GPX embolic device pivotal clinical trial. The objective of this trial will be to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the GPX embolic device.
Etienne Garin (Centre Eugene Marquis, Rennes, France), presenting results from an ad-hoc interim analysis of the PROACTIF trial data, reported that “appropriately selected” patients who received transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with yttrium-90 (Y90) glass microspheres within a “personalised treatment plan” for primary and metastatic liver tumours—including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC)—achieved “long survival” and had a “low adverse event rate”.
Late-breaking data from the ENGULF trial showed that a novel dual-action thrombectomy device was effective and safe in treating acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The safety and effectiveness results were presented today as late-breaking science at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) 2024 Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in JSCAI.
