We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
RANDOX LABORATORIES

Download Mobile App




Novel Endovascular Catheter Opens Blocked Arteries Deep Within Lungs

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 Dec 2023
Print article
Image: The BASHIR Endovascular Catheter was recently approved by the U.S. FDA (Photo courtesy of THROMBOLEX)
Image: The BASHIR Endovascular Catheter was recently approved by the U.S. FDA (Photo courtesy of THROMBOLEX)

The occlusion of small lung arteries is the main cause of the reduction in blood flow in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. The more occlusions that a patient has, the lower the chances of survival. Patients who survive may, over some time, be highly prone to developing chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), which is a life-threatening condition due to increased blood pressure in the lungs. Occlusions are usually treated by relieving the obstructions in both large and small arteries. Now, new research reveals that a novel catheter which has already proven effective in reducing blockages in lung arteries, can also reduce blockages in the smaller segmental pulmonary artery branches which are ultimately responsible for oxygenating the blood in the lungs.

The new study by researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA, USA) which examined the BASHIR Endovascular Catheter from THROMBOLEX, Inc. (New Britain, PA, USA) further demonstrated a correlation between less blockages in the small lung arteries and functional recovery of the right ventricle of the heart, which pumps blood into the main pulmonary artery of the lungs. Notably, the BASHIR catheter was also associated with significantly lower bleeding rates compared to other devices, marking an essential advancement in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism.

The BASHIR catheter is a slender, tube-shaped device featuring a helical basket with six mini-infusion catheters at its tip. This design allows the basket, when expanded within a clot in a large blood vessel, to create new channels through which blood can flow, carrying the body's natural clot-dissolving agents and thereby speeding up the breakdown of the clot. The new study revealed that 48 hours after treatment with the BASHIR catheter, there was a notable reduction in blockages not only in the segmental arteries but also in the proximal branches of the pulmonary artery. These reductions occurred even in arteries located away from where the infusion basket was deployed, facilitating enhanced blood flow and aiding the healing process of the right ventricle. Going forward, the researchers aim to delve into the mechanisms driving the observed decrease in arterial blockage. Further extensive trials are anticipated to more comprehensively understand the BASHIR catheter's impact on patient outcomes, including survival rates and the potential reduction in the incidence of CTEPH.

“Blockages in these smaller, distal pulmonary arteries have never previously been explored in patients treated for acute pulmonary embolism,” explained Riyaz Bashir, MD, FACC, Professor of Medicine, Director of Vascular and Endovascular Medicine in the Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Temple University Hospital, co-inventor of the BASHIR Endovascular Catheter. “We suspect that the improvements in blood flow are due to both the expansion of the basket and the flow of the body's clot dissolving molecules into the clot, which cause the blockage to shrink. As the volume of blood flow improved, right ventricular function also improved, which could translate to better survival.”

Related Links:
Temple University 
THROMBOLEX, Inc. 

Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® patented HydraFlock®
New
Total Knee System
LEGION
New
Vertebral Body Replacement System
Hydrolift

Print article

Channels

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: Robots could help close surgeons’ skill gaps and improve patient outcomes (Photo courtesy of Intuitive Surgical)

Robots to Play Larger Role in Surgery Due to Recent AI Developments

Surgeons commonly utilize robots for specific minimally invasive procedures, yet humans still dictate nearly all movements of these machines. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The portable biosensor platform uses printed electrochemical sensors for the rapid, selective detection of Staphylococcus aureus (Photo courtesy of AIMPLAS)

Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections

Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The acoustic pipette uses sound waves to test for biomarkers in blood (Photo courtesy of Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder)

Handheld, Sound-Based Diagnostic System Delivers Bedside Blood Test Results in An Hour

Patients who go to a doctor for a blood test often have to contend with a needle and syringe, followed by a long wait—sometimes hours or even days—for lab results. Scientists have been working hard to... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.