​Embolic protection, new stents, and TCAR are narrowing the gap between CAS and CEA, but medical therapy could still hold its own in CREST-2.

​HOLLYWOOD, FL—Carotid artery stenting (CAS) and endarterectomy (CEA) remain neck and neck in vying for prominence, but some experts say a minimally invasive surgical approach known as transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), as well as new filters and devices that aim to cut the risk of minor stroke with stenting, could well shift the balance away from surgery.

Moreover, still-pending results from the CREST-2 trial will clarify the position of medical therapy compared with revascularization.

“We were running a little bit behind milestones, and I think right now we’re about right at milestones in terms of achieving the actual enrollment,” Barry T. Katzen, MD (Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, FL), reported at the 2019 International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (ISET). “So this trial is moving along quite well, just slightly below the projected accrual rate. Interestingly enough, endarterectomy was lagging behind stenting in terms of accrual, but now it’s pretty much 50-50, which is great news for the ultimate statistical analysis of this trial.”

Read More: https://www.tctmd.com/news/surmounting-minor-stroke-new-devices-tcar-aim-cut-risk-carotid-artery-stenting

Dr. Michael Aragon and Stacey Porter Bring Wealth of Clinical and Organizational Expertise During Time of Company Grow

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Outset Medical, a commercial-stage company delivering first-of-its-kind technology into the growing global dialysis market, today announced the appointment of two new executives: Michael Aragon, M.D., who joins as Chief Medical Officer, and Stacey Porter, as Vice President, People Operations.

Dr. Aragon is an accomplished board-certified internist and nephrologist who previously spent 14 years in clinical practice and as a medical director for DaVita and U.S. Renal Care, caring for end-stage renal disease patients in dialysis clinics, hospitals, and homes. Dr. Aragon was also the founding partner and president of North Texas Kidney Consultants and served as the medical director of acute hospital dialysis programs with Texas Health Resources Harris Fort Worth, a 660-bed hospital providing more than 700 dialysis treatments per month. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors for the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network of Texas. Dr. Aragon received his training at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston after completing his undergraduate degree at Texas ​A&M University.

Read More: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190115005275/en/Outset-Medical-Appoints-Chief-Medical-Officer-People

When Sean Duffy, the cofounder and CEO of a digital-health startup called Omada Health, took his first look at the results of his new diabetes-treatment program, he noticed a disturbing trend.

Many of the individuals weren't simply fighting diabetes or obesity. They were also battling psychological issues like depression and anxiety, and those conditions were making their obesity-related symptoms worse.

Duffy wondered if there was more Omada could do to help treat those psychological issues.

So roughly a year ago, he and his team began drafting plans for a program that would focus exclusively on depression and anxiety, while also giving existing customers access to a wider range of mental-health tools. Duffy officially announced the program, which includes a partnership with a mental-health startup called Lantern, on Monday.
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Read More: ​https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-diabetes-startup-omada-now-tackling-depression-lantern-2019-1

BOSTON, Jan. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) recently added two new digital health solutions to its Emerging Solutions portfolio—Robin Care for cancer support and Hinge Health for musculoskeletal conditions such as back and knee pain.

The company introduced Emerging Solutions earlier this year to find innovative digital solutions and advise employer customers on options to help improve their employees' health and lower costs. Blue Cross launched the portfolio with solutions for diabetes management (Livongo and Omada) and fertility, pregnancy and parenting (Ovia Health).

According to the National Business Group on Health 2019 Large Employer Health Care Strategy & Plan Design Survey, more than 50% of large employers plan to implement more virtual care solutions as their top initiative in 2019, with specific interest in behavioral health, lifestyle coaching, musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes management and physical therapy. 

Read More: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-cross-blue-shield-of-massachusetts-adds-two-new-digital-health-solutions-for-large-self-insured-clients-300774917.html

Transcarotid artery revascularization with a neuroprotection system was associated with a low rate of stroke in patients with carotid artery stenosis, according to 1-year results of the ROADSTER trial.

As Cardiology Today’s Intervention previously reported, transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) with a neuroprotection system (Enroute, Silk Road Medical) was associated with lower 30-day stroke and death rates compared with traditional carotid stenting

For the present analysis, researchers analyzed 165 patients (112 from pivotal phase; 53 from extended-access cohort; mean age, 74 years; 65% men; 80% asymptomatic) with carotid artery stenosis at high risk for endarterectomy.

According to the researchers, high-risk anatomic factors included 11% of patients with contralateral carotid artery occlusion, 1.8% with tandem stenosis greater than 70%, 25% with high cervical carotid artery stenosis, 25.6% with restenosis after carotid endarterectomy, 4.3% with bilateral stenosis requiring treatment and 14.6% with a hostile neck. In addition, some patients had high-risk cardiac factors, including 14% with coronary disease in two or more vessels and a history of angina.

Read More: ​https://www.healio.com/cardiac-vascular-intervention/cerebrovascular/news/online/%7bf2df72f5-1e66-4685-bf00-5eb0939230d4%7d/novel-transcarotid-device-yields-low-stroke-rate-during-carotid-artery-stenting