Did you hear about Nipro’s latest philanthropic act?

CTO Live Aid is the perfect example of Nipro and its industry partners working together towards one humanitarian goal – supporting hospitals in Ukraine. However, it was not just a fundraiser. We have Leigh A. Childs, Manager (Global Vascular Products Support Dept, Vascular Division, Nipro Corporation), to break down the key, incredible takeaways.

What is CTO Live Aid?

Interventional cardiologists started this program during the pandemic to exchange information relating to devices and techniques. They realized there was an opportunity to provide financial benefit to those suffering. This year, donations were made to support hospitals in Ukraine.

In addition to the fundraiser, CTO Live Aid runs live cases. Nipro’s products were used in one of the cases.

About the live case:

Dr. Kenya Nasu, a prominent interventional cardiologist from Mie Heart Center, Japan, performed a difficult case - it involved a very long, calcified CTO of the Right Coronary Artery (RCA).

Through medical imaging technology (combination of CT imaging, IVUS, and biplane fluoroscopy), he was able to develop and follow a clear treatment strategy. He used a variety of medical devices to successfully complete the case. A simple Type A lesion would typically be treated in well under an hour and for this case, the total procedural time was over 7 hours. 

Products used in the live case:

Live case highlight:

The procedure went from an antegrade approach to a retrograde approach. It implies that vascular access to the lesion was obtained from the left coronary artery and tracked through septal branches to cross through the right coronary artery. The level of difficulty and skillset required to successfully complete such an approach is highly regarded by all interventional cardiologists around the world.

Live case: 3 successes beyond procedural achievements

1. Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) cases are the hardest type of coronary intervention performed. It is important that physicians directly discuss latest developments in technology, devices, and techniques to improve procedural success. This will potentially reduce the strain of having to undergo coronary bypass surgery.
    
2. There were four well-known Japanese medical manufacturers in the interventional field for the live case. Although, we may actively compete in the same market, it shows that we can achieve more through cooperation.
    
3. As employees of a medical device manufacturer, we are proud to work in an industry that provides devices that improve patients’ lives. And the recipients of this year’s fundraiser are certainly most deserving of everyone’s support.

There is a difference in the technology and devices available in hospitals around the world (due to either regulatory or financial restrictions). There are even differences to the approach and techniques utilized to complete particular coronary interventions. Through the multi-national panel, it was a great opportunity for physicians to openly generate discussion beyond their physical locations as to the when, how, and why of particular technologies, products, and strategies.

You can donate at www.cto-liveaid.com