Interview: Next Generation IVUS Case Competition

Note: Applications for the CIRSE 2024 Next Generation IVUS Case Competition are now closed. If you have any questions regarding the competition, please get in touch at [email protected].

CIRSE will host another instalment of the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) case competition at CIRSE 2024. The goal of this initiative is to support the next generation of leaders in medicine by giving them a platform to share their clinical knowledge, network with mentors and industry partners, and inspire future medical professionals with their successful case studies.

We connected with last year’s winner, Dr. Kevin Fung, as well as another fantastic competitor, Dr. Mohamed Hosny Sayed, to hear about their experience with the competition and words of encouragement for young and prospective IRs.

Dr. Kevin Fung is a paediatric interventional radiologist from the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital

Dr. Mohamed Hosny Sayed is a consultant vascular and endovascular surgeon in Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.

ETF: How did you learn about CIRSE?

Hosny Sayed: I first came across CIRSE three years ago when I participated with a presentation titled “Systematic review: venous stent migration” along one of my great mentors Prof Stephen Black, Consultant Vascular Surgeon and complex venous disease expert.

Fung: Our local IR society, the Hong Kong Society of Interventional Radiology (HKSIR), has been a long-time partner of CIRSE. When I was a radiology resident, I learnt from my senior that CIRSE has a wide range of IR-related educational resources, including lectures in CIRSE library, CVIR journal and trainee-oriented activities from the European Trainee Forum (ETF). So, I joined CIRSE and took advantage of the very attractive CIRSE Group Membership rate via HKSIR.

ETF: Given that IVUS is relatively new technology, how often you use it at your centre and for which types of procedures?

Hosny Sayed: IVUS has been used regularly for complex venous disease cases. Recently it has been used more often in peripheral arterial cases.

Fung: I first started using IVUS with my renal angioplasty cases, especially in young children or small segmental arteries, where accurate determination of balloon size is crucial. Estimation of vessel size can be difficult and inaccurate using software calibration on angiography. Under-sizing of balloon leads to ineffective treatment, but over-sizing of balloon may cause arterial rupture, which can be difficult to manage in children.

In addition to renal angioplasty, IVUS has also proven useful in venous interventions including stent sizing and placement for vascular compression syndromes such as May-Thurner and nutcracker syndrome.”

ETF: What impact has participating at CIRSE had on your daily practice as an IR?

Hosny Sayed: This meeting gives a great opportunity to connect with different people with different mind and different approaches in the field of interest which can help expand your vision, polish your technique and improve practice.

Fung: As a CIRSE Member, I really appreciate the online lectures on Paediatric IR topics in CIRSE library. These are very useful when I am planning on a new procedure. Apart from sharing these with my fellow radiologists, I sometimes share certain lectures with my clinical colleagues as well, especially when introducing new treatments. For example, we encountered a neonate with congenital haemangioma recently, it is important for the clinicians to hear from the experts what PIR can offer – in this case life-saving embolization to alleviate heart failure.

CIRSE’s meetings are also fantastic platforms to meet and connect with experts in the field. I have met many friendly IRs who are ready to share their experience and insights when I encounter difficult cases.

ETF: Do you have any words of wisdom for young or prospective IRs wishing to attend the CIRSE Annual Congress?

Hosny Sayed: Seize this great opportunity and every other opportunity that comes across your way to learn more and develop your own technique and approaches.

Fung: Submit your interesting and challenging cases to the IVUS case competition! It is a great opportunity to share your experience and see what others are innovating with this new technology.

Go to the ETF sessions which have a lot of practical tips for residents and young IRs who are just starting out in their practice. And join the hands-on workshops. It is a good platform to try out new devices and practice in a simulated environment to gain confidence.

Applications for the CIRSE 2024 Next Generation IVUS Case Competition are now closed.

The top five candidates will receive free registration for CIRSE 2024 and travel support (up to € 2,000) as well as a chance to present their cases at the congress. The overall winner will be chosen by the audience at the congress and will be invited to compete for a $1,000 prize at the Global IVUS Case Competition at the VEITH Symposium 2024 taking place in November in New York City.