Peripheral Vascular Associates (PVA) Performs The First Inside-Out® Procedure in San Antonio, Texas
Surfacer® System is the first and only FDA cleared device which can assist physicians to obtain central venous access in patients with blocked veins
San Antonio, Texas (July 20, 2022)—Peripheral Vascular Associates (PVA), in collaboration with Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, has successfully completed San Antonio’s first Inside-Out® medical procedure using the Surfacer® System. This revolutionary device was invented by Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, locally headquartered in San Antonio, in order to obtain central venous access for a patient requiring hemodialysis following a blockage of their central veins.
The Surfacer procedure was performed by Dr. Gabriel Bietz, RPVI, a vascular surgeon at Peripheral Vascular Associates, together with his team. This was the first Surfacer System procedure to be performed in San Antonio, TX, and was completed at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan.
Thoracic central venous obstruction occurs in nearly 40% of patients who have a central venous catheter. While permanent arteriovenous fistulas are the preferred form of vascular access for hemodialysis patients, central venous catheters continue to serve as an important bridge to securing long-term access for life-saving hemodialysis treatment. The current approach for most patients with central venous obstructions is to use an alternative vein, which reduces the ability to place and mature a functioning fistula, resulting in increased catheter days and costs.
According to CMS, more than 62.4 million Americans are enrolled in the Medicare program. Approximately 80% of patients on hemodialysis are covered by Medicare fee-for-service as primary payer or by a Medicare Advantage managed care plan. Patients who live with kidney failure represent 1% of the total U.S. Medicare population, yet account for 7% of the Medicare costs.
For photos of Dr. Bietz at PVA with the Surfacer System device, please click here.
The use of the Surfacer device also avoids left-side catheter placement, better enabling the maturation of permanent arteriovenous access options in the left arm and minimizing unnecessary access-related procedures and complications. The National Kidney Foundation’s current Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Access recommend that the ideal access site for hemodialysis catheters is the right internal jugular vein. This preferred right-sided access path is supported by the Surfacer System’s novel Don’t Go Left™ approach.
The Surfacer System is designed to reliably, efficiently and repeatedly gain central venous access by inserting the Surfacer System through the right femoral vein and navigating it up through the patient’s venous system with an exit point in the right internal jugular vein, the optimal location for placing a central venous catheter. Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, a privately held medical device company headquartered in San Antonio, TX, is dedicated to developing and commercializing lifesaving devices and methods that address shortcomings in vascular access procedures.
“The use of the Surfacer System enabled us to quickly and efficiently obtain central venous access in patients suffering from central vein occlusion,” stated Dr. Bietz. “Many of our patients have had multiple central vein vascular access procedures during their lifetime. The Surfacer System offers additional treatment options to better serve our beloved South Texas community.”
Additional photos of the Surfacer System device can be found here.
About Peripheral Vascular Associates (PVA)
Founded in 1975, Peripheral Vascular Associates (PVA) is one of the largest vascular specialty focused groups in Texas. PVA is committed to providing comprehensive state of the art circulatory care to the residents of San Antonio and South Texas. PVA’s mission is to continually work with our physician colleagues in the management of any vascular problem, to provide education to the community about the risk factors associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and to maintain our position as the leader in vascular care. With 22 vascular surgeons and physicians, together with 15 convenient clinic locations across San Antonio and throughout South Texas, PVA is committed to offering the highest level of vascular care for every patient, every day. For more information, please visit www.PVAsatx.com.
About Bluegrass Vascular Technologies
Bluegrass Vascular Technologies (BVT) is a medical technology company dedicated to developing and commercializing lifesaving devices and methods that address shortcomings in vascular access procedures. BVT has developed and manufactures the Surfacer® Inside-Out® Access Catheter System (Surfacer System). The Surfacer System is designed to reliably, efficiently and repeatedly gain central venous access by inserting the Surfacer System through the right femoral vein and navigating it up through the patient’s venous system, with an exit point in the right internal jugular vein- the optimal location for placing a central venous catheter. This proprietary Inside-Out approach allows for the placement and maturation of permanent arteriovenous access options that are associated with improved patient outcomes and reduced cost of care for both hospitals and hemodialysis providers. The Surfacer System has received FDA De Novo device clearance in the US and is CE marked in Europe. For more information, please visit www.BlueGrassVascular.com.
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