Lack of awareness among referring physicians limits intervention in venous system: MRG

Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, finds that although venous procedures are set to grow by more than 10% through 2013, a lack of awareness among referring physicians is a major roadblock in increased interventions in the venous system.

Despite this trend, specialists are increasingly adopting new technologies, with 55% of respondents having used pharmacomechanical thrombectomy systems for deep vein thrombosis removal, and 66% performing venous stenting on a regular basis.  The venous system has recently been gaining exposure as an under treated area of the human vasculature. New evidence of clinical success has spurred a trend towards increasingly aggressive interventions both for acute and chronic venous disease. A major contributing factor was the 2008 Surgeon General's Call to Action on Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism, but the rise of arterial stents in the venous system has also played a significant role.

"Respondents identified increased education among primary care practitioners as the most important factor that would drive venous stenting," says Stephanie LaBelle, Manager of the Cardiovascular division at MRG. "A third of respondents were unaware of the practice of venous stenting, and 40% do not refer patients for the procedure."

MRG's new Physician Forum publication, Venous Interventions: The Rise of Venous Stenting and Aggressive Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment is based on 98 US specialists who treat deep vein diseases, and 78 primary care practitioners who refer these patients.  The publication investigates the changing dynamics of the venous interventional market with a specific focus on acute deep vein thrombosis treatment, and the treatment of obstructive chronic deep vein disease with venous stents.