A CME symposium scheduled to take place during the Amputation Prevention (AMP) Conference in Chicago on August 8 will explore the impact of vascular dissections on critical limb ischemia patients, Intact Vascular announces.

The symposium, titled “Why Dissections Matter: A case-based look at below-the-knee lesions post-PTA,” will explore how post-percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) dissections are often overlooked, underdiagnosed, and left untreated. These dissections can compromise clinical outcomes in both the short and long term, thus putting limbs at increased risk of reduced blood flow, gangrene and amputation.

The symposium will feature three critical limb ischemia experts: George Adams, MD; Marianne Brodmann, MD; and Peter Soukas, MD, according to a media release from Intact Vascular.

“The effect of post-angioplasty dissection in lower extremities, or below-the-knee, is particularly detrimental in patients with critical limb ischemia,” says George Adams, MD, MHS, director of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular research, UNC REX Hospital, Raleigh, NC, in the release.

“The ability to properly identify and treat these dissections is essential to preserving blood flow and preventing amputation in this vulnerable patient population,” he adds.

Intact Vascular’s Tack Endovascular System is a new solution for precision dissection repair following balloon angioplasty. It features what is reportedly a first-of-its-kind implant that is designed to help maintain vessel integrity and enhance blood flow to promote healing, improve outcomes. and preserve limbs. The Tack Endovascular System leaves a minimal amount of metal in the artery, reduces mechanical stress on the arterial wall, and preserves future treatment options, the release explains.

Intact Vascular is sponsoring three clinical trials to evaluate its Tack Endovascular System: TOBA II, TOBA II BTK, and TOBA III.

TOBA II is investigating the combination of the Tack implant with both plain angioplasty balloons and the BARD Lutonix drug-coated balloon (DCB) in the arteries above the knee, and completed enrollment in March 2017. TOBA II BTK is investigating the combination of the Tack implant with plain balloon angioplasty in the arteries below the knee and is actively enrolling patients.

TOBA III has completed enrollment in Europe and is investigating the combination of the Tack implant with the Medtronic IN.PACT Admiral (DCB), inclusive of long lesions, per the release.

[Source(s): Intact Vascular, Business Wire]