Development of a Research Agenda for Endovascular Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism: Proceedings from a Multidisciplinary Consensus Panel

Abstract

VENOUS thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent cause of death, cardiopulmonary morbidity, and late limb disability (1,2). In recent years, minimally invasive endovascular methods have been used to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), the two most common manifestations of VTE (3,4). Although early clinical experiences suggest that these techniques have significant potential to improve patient outcomes, there has been no coordinated effort to determine what research studies are needed to refine these techniques and scientifically validate their long-term efficacy. To address these issues, a multidisciplinary meeting of prominent venous disease experts was convened in October 2004 by the Cooperative Alliance for Interventional Radiology Research (CAIRR), the clinical trials network of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Foundation. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a prioritized research agenda for endovascular VTE interventions that includes basic science/technology research, pilot clinical studies, and pivotal clinical trials.