Newsroom

Physician-scientists from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical College are presenting exciting new research at the 2007 Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) in Baltimore, June 6-10. Among the most significant presentations are the following:

Surgeon Experience Predicts Outcomes for Elective Endovascular Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm Repair: Results from the National Medicare Database
Authors: Drs. Leila Mureebe, Peter L. Faries, Roman Nowygrod, K. Craig Kent, James F. McKinsey, et al.
Thursday, June 7, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR) was introduced in 2000, however little research has been done on the relationship between physician experience in performing EVAR and clinical outcomes. According to senior author Dr. James McKinsey, this study looked at whether mortality and adverse events are predicted by the experience of the surgeon. EVAR procedures included in the analysis were from the Medicare Database (2000-2004). This study revealed a significant reduction in perioperative complications and mortality with increased surgeon experience in EVAR.

Insurance Status Predicts Access to Care and Outcomes of Vascular Disease
Authors: Drs. Leila Mureebe, Roman Nowygrod, James F. McKinsey, Peter L. Faries, K. Craig Kent and Nicholas J. Morrissey.
Friday, June 8, 8:30-9:50 a.m.

Investigators assessed insurance status as a predictive measure of the severity of vascular disease at the time of treatment as well as the effect insurance status had on the clinical outcome of various vascular interventions. Patients without insurance or with Medicaid are at a greater than twofold risk of presenting with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm compared to those patients insured under health maintenance organizations (HMO), Medicare, Medicare HMO, commercial insurers, Medicaid HMO, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Blue Cross or other federal programs. The study concluded that insurance status is a predictor of vascular disease severity at the time of presentation, however once treatment occurs the outcomes are similar in both categories, with the exception of lower extremity revascularization which resulted in a much greater amputation rate in the Medicaid and uninsured populations. According to study author Dr. Peter L. Faries, this study suggests that underinsured patients are often at a disadvantage for care, both at the time of treatment and, in some cases, following intervention.

Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting and Carotid Endarterectomy in the Community: Analysis of Outcomes Using Large Data Sets
Authors: Drs. Leila Mureebe, James F. McKinsey, Peter L. Faries, Annetine Gelijns, Alan J. Moskowitz, K. Craig Kent, et al.
Sunday, June 10, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

The role of carotid stenting in treating carotid disease remains controversial. This study analyzed a large population dataset – 2005 hospital inpatient discharge data from California and New York – to identify and compare the rates of death and stroke following Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting (CAS) and Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) (the surgical removal of plaque or blood clots in an artery) procedures. Dr. Leila Mureebe will be presenting research about these two procedures' mortality and post-procedure stroke rates. The analysis of this dataset revealed that mortality for patients undergoing carotid angioplasty and stenting was double that of carotid endarterectomy. Carotid endarterectomy remains a safe option for most patients with significantly lower mortality and lower risk of stroke.

Other activities of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College physician-scientists include the following:

Dr. K. Craig Kent, who will be giving the SVS Presidential Address on Friday, June 8, 2007. Dr. Kent is president of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). He is cardiovascular surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the Greenberg-Starr Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. James McKinsey, who will be speaking on atherectomy, a relatively new technique for clearing blocked arteries in the lower extremity, during a breakfast session entitled: "Infrainguinal Endovascular Therapy: State of the Art 2007" on Friday, June 8, 2007. Dr. McKinsey is the site chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, associate professor of clinical surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and adjunct associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dr. Nicholas J. Morrissey, who will be moderating a Plenary Session on Vascular Disease Treatments on Friday, June 8, 2007. Dr. Morrissey is the bicampus director of clinical trials at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and assistant professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Experts Available for Commentary on Breaking News and Other Stories at the SVS Meeting

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College experts are available for commentary on the following topics and breaking news:

• Late-Breaking Clinical Trial: Pivotal results of the Medtronic Vascular Talent™ Thoracic Stent Graft System for patients with thoracic aortic disease (the VALOR Trial)
• Late-Breaking Clinical Trial: Early results of an international controlled trial of TEVAR: The STARZ TX2 trial
• Details of the CMS non-coverage decision on carotid stenting
• Carotid stenting: impact of the results of EVA 3-S and SPACE Trial
• Minimally invasive repair of aortic dissection
• Minimum experience required to perform vascular procedures safely
• Minimally invasive stent graft repair of thoracic aortic aneurysm
• Amputation prevention
• Carotid disease
• Aortic disease
• Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
• Atherectomy for lower extremity ischemia

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital – based in New York City – is the nation's largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital, with 2,335 beds. It provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at five major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Allen Pavilion and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the largest and most comprehensive health-care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education, and community service. It ranks sixth in U.S.News & World Report's guide to "America's Best Hospitals," ranks first on New York magazine's "Best Hospitals" survey, has the greatest number of physicians listed in New York magazine's "Best Doctors" issue, and is included among Solucient's top 15 major teaching hospitals. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Columbia University Medical Center

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, nurses, dentists and public health professionals at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the Mailman School of Public Health, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions.

Weill Cornell Medical College

Weill Cornell Medical College – located in New York City – is committed to excellence in research, teaching, patient care and the advancement of the art and science of medicine. Weill Cornell, which is a principal academic affiliate of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, offers an innovative curriculum that integrates the teaching of basic and clinical sciences, problem-based learning, office-based preceptorships, and primary care and doctoring courses. Physicians and scientists of Weill Cornell Medical College are engaged in cutting-edge research in such areas as stem cells, genetics and gene therapy, geriatrics, neuroscience, structural biology, cardiovascular medicine, AIDS, obesity, cancer and psychiatry – and continue to delve ever deeper into the molecular basis of disease in an effort to unlock the mysteries behind the human body and the malfunctions that result in serious medical disorders. Weill Cornell Medical College is the birthplace of many medical advances – from the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer to the synthesis of penicillin, the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S., and most recently, the world's first clinical trial for gene therapy for Parkinson's disease. Weill Cornell's Physician Organization includes 650 clinical faculty, who provide the highest quality of care to their patients.