New State of the Art Vein Stent Implanted at Englewood Health
Dr. Steven Elias is first in New Jersey to perform procedure
The Department of Vascular Surgery at Englewood Health, in Englewood New Jersey, has announced that Steve Elias, MD, FACS, DABVLM, Director of the Center for Vein Disease, is the first in New Jersey to implant the Zilver® Vena™ Venous Self-Expanding Stent.
Used to help patients suffering from symptomatic iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction (narrowing of the veins in the pelvic area), this new, FDA approved, stent (once implanted) expands to keep blood flowing through narrow or blocked veins. Designed to balance flexibility and strength, the stent is flexible so that it can conform to a patient’s unique anatomy while it provides sufficient balance of expansion and strength to open blocked veins. Patients who have the stent implanted will go home the same day as the procedure, and in most cases, they can return to full activity the next day.
“When it comes to venous disease, being able to provide the latest advancements and procedures for our patients at Englewood Health is paramount to maintaining and improving patient outcomes,” says Dr. Steven Elias. “These procedures can improve symptoms by about 75% – 80%, leading to a big improvement in a patient’s quality of life.”
To receive this FDA premarket approval, Cook Medical provided scientific evidence gathered through an FDA approved trial that the device is safe and effective for its intended use in treating venous outflow obstruction.
Dr. Steven Elias is first in New Jersey to perform procedure
The Department of Vascular Surgery at Englewood Health, in Englewood New Jersey, has announced that Steve Elias, MD, FACS, DABVLM, Director of the Center for Vein Disease, is the first in New Jersey to implant the Zilver® Vena™ Venous Self-Expanding Stent.
Used to help patients suffering from symptomatic iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction (narrowing of the veins in the pelvic area), this new, FDA approved, stent (once implanted) expands to keep blood flowing through narrow or blocked veins. Designed to balance flexibility and strength, the stent is flexible so that it can conform to a patient’s unique anatomy while it provides sufficient balance of expansion and strength to open blocked veins. Patients who have the stent implanted will go home the same day as the procedure, and in most cases, they can return to full activity the next day.
“When it comes to venous disease, being able to provide the latest advancements and procedures for our patients at Englewood Health is paramount to maintaining and improving patient outcomes,” says Dr. Steven Elias. “These procedures can improve symptoms by about 75% – 80%, leading to a big improvement in a patient’s quality of life.”
To receive this FDA premarket approval, Cook Medical provided scientific evidence gathered through an FDA approved trial that the device is safe and effective for its intended use in treating venous outflow obstruction.
Surgical Education Live, Real and Remote:
Englewood Hospital’s Head of Vein Surgery, Steve Elias MD Uses Breakthrough
Avail System Technology To Teach Other Surgeons
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down or stopped a lot in our lives. But some things are necessary and really can’t stop or shouldn’t be stopped. Surgical education is one of those things. Surgical techniques and technologies are always advancing. The need for the best and most up to date care for patients doesn’t stop because of a pandemic. In fact, it may be needed more because of a pandemic. But how can surgeons continue to learn and improve care with the challenges of today? Travel is restricted, access to learning is hindered and in-person observation of surgical procedures done by master surgeons is hampered.
Dr. Steve Elias, the Director of the Center for Vein Disease of Englewood Health Network in Englewood Hospital NJ has been on the cutting edge of using innovative technologies and teaching these technologies to other surgeons for the past 25 years. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges to vein disease education. The Avail System has allowed us to continue “in-person” education without surgeons needing to be in the operating room with me”, says Dr. Elias. He is the first hospital-based surgeon in the Tristate area to use the Avail technology from a hospital setting to teach hundreds of surgeons, fellows and residents advanced vein care procedures. “Early on in the restrictions of COVID-19 many surgeons and companies approached me as to how to continue teaching safely and efficiently. The Avail System seemed to be the answer,” explains Dr. Elias.
The Avail System is comprised of a portable console with an oversized monitor, two high-definition cameras and the ability to live stream imaging views from procedures. All of this can be controlled remotely using an iPad or laptop without the need of an in-person videographer. The views from the Avail System can be broadcast to remote audiences, reducing the need for students of new techniques to travel and be physically present in the operating room. This decreases risk, expenses, and travel time while increasing access to live education. It is as if the remote person is in the operating room standing right next to the surgeon. Immediate two-way communication is possible so remote learners can ask questions of the operating surgeon in real time. The remote learner can split the screen between views pulled from the cameras and imaging inputs, allowing the learner, for example, to see the hands of Dr. Elias while simultaneously viewing ultrasound or X-ray. Dr. Elias explains, “Whatever I am seeing, the remote physician I am teaching is seeing as well. Surgery is a visual and physical activity. You can’t learn the best techniques by just reading about something in a book or watching a video. The Avail System allows learning physicians to see everything in real time and ask questions.”
Over the last few months Dr. Elias has taught courses for major medical companies and vein societies such as Medtronic Inc., Philips Inc., Venous Symposium and the upcoming American Vein and Lymphatic Society Annual meeting in October. In conclusion Dr. Elias says, “I have enjoyed teaching others the newest, safest and most minimally invasive techniques. The Avail System has not only enabled me to continue my passion of teaching, but it has altered the paradigm, reducing travel, expense and time commitment while not sacrificing the value of in-person learning but probably enhancing it. This is the future of surgical and medical education with or without COVID being a concern.”
Englewood Hospital’s Head of Vein Surgery, Steve Elias MD Uses Breakthrough
Avail System Technology To Teach Other Surgeons
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down or stopped a lot in our lives. But some things are necessary and really can’t stop or shouldn’t be stopped. Surgical education is one of those things. Surgical techniques and technologies are always advancing. The need for the best and most up to date care for patients doesn’t stop because of a pandemic. In fact, it may be needed more because of a pandemic. But how can surgeons continue to learn and improve care with the challenges of today? Travel is restricted, access to learning is hindered and in-person observation of surgical procedures done by master surgeons is hampered.
Dr. Steve Elias, the Director of the Center for Vein Disease of Englewood Health Network in Englewood Hospital NJ has been on the cutting edge of using innovative technologies and teaching these technologies to other surgeons for the past 25 years. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges to vein disease education. The Avail System has allowed us to continue “in-person” education without surgeons needing to be in the operating room with me”, says Dr. Elias. He is the first hospital-based surgeon in the Tristate area to use the Avail technology from a hospital setting to teach hundreds of surgeons, fellows and residents advanced vein care procedures. “Early on in the restrictions of COVID-19 many surgeons and companies approached me as to how to continue teaching safely and efficiently. The Avail System seemed to be the answer,” explains Dr. Elias.
The Avail System is comprised of a portable console with an oversized monitor, two high-definition cameras and the ability to live stream imaging views from procedures. All of this can be controlled remotely using an iPad or laptop without the need of an in-person videographer. The views from the Avail System can be broadcast to remote audiences, reducing the need for students of new techniques to travel and be physically present in the operating room. This decreases risk, expenses, and travel time while increasing access to live education. It is as if the remote person is in the operating room standing right next to the surgeon. Immediate two-way communication is possible so remote learners can ask questions of the operating surgeon in real time. The remote learner can split the screen between views pulled from the cameras and imaging inputs, allowing the learner, for example, to see the hands of Dr. Elias while simultaneously viewing ultrasound or X-ray. Dr. Elias explains, “Whatever I am seeing, the remote physician I am teaching is seeing as well. Surgery is a visual and physical activity. You can’t learn the best techniques by just reading about something in a book or watching a video. The Avail System allows learning physicians to see everything in real time and ask questions.”
Over the last few months Dr. Elias has taught courses for major medical companies and vein societies such as Medtronic Inc., Philips Inc., Venous Symposium and the upcoming American Vein and Lymphatic Society Annual meeting in October. In conclusion Dr. Elias says, “I have enjoyed teaching others the newest, safest and most minimally invasive techniques. The Avail System has not only enabled me to continue my passion of teaching, but it has altered the paradigm, reducing travel, expense and time commitment while not sacrificing the value of in-person learning but probably enhancing it. This is the future of surgical and medical education with or without COVID being a concern.”