Hands-on Device Training (HDT)

After a short kick-off presentation by the HDT coordinators, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the specifics as well as safe and effective use of the available technology in an interactive setting.

Each HDT will feature a round-table discussion with the coordinators at the end of each session, allowing participants to ask questions and provide feedback.

Participating industry partners have been invited by CIRSE to provide an overview of their devices and technologies.

How to participate

Participation will be free of charge for registered CIRSE 2024 delegates, but places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. As these sessions offer practical medical training, participation is for qualified medical professionals only.

Central lines and ports

Central lines and ports have become a cornerstone in patient care. Interventional radiology has made the insertion of these a core basic skill and been responsible for their dissemination throughout hospital networks. This hands-on session provides an overview of their use as well as how to deal with complications and difficult clinical scenarios.

CBCT and image-guided fusion

This hands-on device training will offer attendees the opportunity to explore and learn about the latest commercially available image-guided technologies for treatment planning and real-time navigation, as well as incorporating multi-modality image fusion, post-ablation imaging confirmation, and other image-guided techniques.

Embolization: materials and tools

Embolization is an important part of an IR’s work, and as such, it is essential to thoroughly understand how to perform this technique in order to avoid complications. Having substantial knowledge of available materials is absolutely necessary when selecting the most suitable device for any scenario.

Mechanical thrombectomy

Mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to remove flow obstructing blood clots from the arterial or venous vasculature with minimal to zero need for lyrics. In recent years, different technologies have been developed. These devices come with specific indications, modes of operation as well as their inherent pros and cons.

Two different hands-on device trainings will allow physicians to familiarize themselves with these exciting new treatment modalities.

Microcatheters and microwires

The evolution of technology has significantly influenced endovascular interventions. Recognizing the pivotal role that microcatheters and microguidewires play in these procedures, this workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the most used devices as well as the latest innovations.

During this session, participants will have the unique opportunity to explore a variety of materials designed for different procedures. The emphasis will be on the importance of selecting the right tools tailored to specific interventions. The event will facilitate discussions with experts in the field, offering a platform to exchange insights and practical knowledge.

Percutaneous arteriovenous fistulas: the way forward

A percutaneous, endovascular arteriovenous fistula is a new way of creating vascular access for haemodialysis patients. Choosing the right patient to perform these procedures is critical to a successful outcome, which is defined by the ability of the newly formed vascular access to be cannulated. Familiarity with the technical aspects, the advantages and the limitations of the available devices is also important. Understanding the specific features of these newly created fistulas, the follow-up, and finally, their cannulation is what is needed to provide the best services to the dialysis patient.

Percutaneous arteriovenous fistula creation is not just the device and the procedure; it is the entire journey from patient selection to fistula cannulation. All of these aspects and steps will be covered in this hands-on device training.

Stroke thrombectomy

Stroke thrombectomy represents a relatively new frontier for interventional radiologists. The number of patients diagnosed with this pathological condition is increasing, and, as a consequence, it is necessary for interventional radiologists to participate in these procedures. For this, it is essential to have abundant experience as well as excellent knowledge of anatomy and the techniques and materials to be used. Participants of this hands-on device training will have the chance to familiarize themselves with the most common thrombectomy devices.

Each HDT will feature a round-table discussion with the coordinators at the end of each session, allowing participants to ask questions and provide feedback.

Tumour ablation

Ablation plays a fundamental role in the minimally invasive treatment of cancer. Ablation technologies and equipment for live image guidance, stereotactic or robotic navigation as well as verification software continue to quickly develop in order to promote ablation simulation and planning, intra-procedural monitoring and outcome evaluation.

In order to stay up to date on these developments, this hands-on device training will offer separate sessions to look at radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation and alternative techniques, including cryoablation, IRE and other image-guided technologies.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are a manifestation of chronic venous disease, which causes significant impairment in quality of life for both men and women, physically and aesthetically. Recent developments in the endovascular treatment of saphenous vein reflux, which is the most common cause of varicose veins, led to a change in the treatment of varicose veins: from surgery to minimally invasive treatments, and from the OR to the office. Considering the increasing demand for treatment and the growing involvement of interventional radiologists, it is essential to understand the timing of such interventions and acquire basic skills in the methodology.

This hands-on device training, coordinated by two experienced IRs in the field, aims to provide an overview of the selection of devices available and different techniques.

Venous stenting practice

Venous diseases represent an ever-increasing component of the interventionalists’ workload. Venous intervention requires specific considerations, including adapting to the low flow, low pressure, and low resistivity of the venous system. Along with traditional stent technology, several specific venous stents have become available to help restore and maintain vessel patency in a safe and efficient way. These are widely used in the management of venous obstruction for acute and chronic pathologies.

This hands-on device training will offer attendees the opportunity to explore and learn about new technology including IVUS, the various options for venous stenting, as well as the specific advantages of individual stents.

Vertebral augmentation

Every day, interventional radiologists are approached by patients to resolve their vertebral pathologies. In recent years, considerable technological progress has been made as a consequence of the extraordinary outcomes of minimally invasive techniques, which have helped countless patients to achieve pain relief and avoid many of the complications associated with open surgery.

In this hands-on device training, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and balloon kyphoplasty will be discussed, and devices for each of these procedures will be presented and available for participants to practice with.