Response to "Estimating the proportion of intracranial aneurysms
likely to be amenable to treatment with the pipeline embolization device."
J Neurointerv Surg. 2011 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Ronil V. Chandra MBBS FRANZCR, Thabele M Leslie-Mazwi M.D and Joshua
A Hirsch M.D
Department of Interventional Neuroradiology/ Endovascular
Neurosurgery
Massachusetts Gen...
Response to "Estimating the proportion of intracranial aneurysms
likely to be amenable to treatment with the pipeline embolization device."
J Neurointerv Surg. 2011 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Ronil V. Chandra MBBS FRANZCR, Thabele M Leslie-Mazwi M.D and Joshua
A Hirsch M.D
Department of Interventional Neuroradiology/ Endovascular
Neurosurgery
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School
Corresponding Author:
Joshua A Hirsch, M.D
Department of Interventional Neuroradiology/ Endovascular Neurosurgery
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street Gray 241
Boston MA 02114
E-mail: jahirsch@partners.org
We commend Brinjikji et al on their recent article estimating the
proportion of intracranial aneurysms likely to be amenable to treatment
with the pipeline embolization device (PED) 1. Based on aneurysm and
parent artery morphology, 47% of their consecutive sample of 200 aneurysms
could theoretically be treated by the PED.
We believe the paper might have been enhanced by consideration of the
current FDA approved indications for use of the PED. The approved
indications are for treatment of adults (22 years or greater) with large
or giant (10 mm or greater) wide-necked (4mm or greater or no discernible
neck) ICA aneurysms from the petrous to the superior hypophyseal segments.
At least 30% or more of the aneurysms that could be treated by the PED in
this theoretical analysis would have therefore been treated in an "off-
label" fashion. Put differently, in the cohort examined, ICA aneurysms
accounted for only 37% of the total sample. ICA aneurysms above the
superior hypophyseal segment were also included, as noted in Figure 1C.
Furthermore, ruptured aneurysms, which pose a relative contraindication
for use of the PED, were also included. The latter was clearly
acknowledged by the authors as a limitation and was required to increase
overall sample size.
Many unanswered questions regarding the PED remain, particularly
relating to rupture after treatment and long-term patency rates. Rather
than concluding that anatomically almost half of aneurysms presenting to a
tertiary neurovascular center could be treated with the PED, it might have
been prudent to highlight the FDA approved indications, and useful to
estimate the proportion of aneurysms that could be treated for these
approved indications.
References:
1. Brinjikji W, Cloft HJ, Fiorella D, et al. Estimating the
proportion of intracranial aneurysms likely to be amenable to treatment
with the pipeline embolization device. J Neurointerv Surg. 2011
In October 2011, JNIS published our article on the implementation of
the ICD-10 codes1. The final line of the paper was..." The authors favor
postponing implementation of ICD-10 and prefer a focus on core issues of
improving care and access.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will require all health
professionals and facilities to transition to ICD-10 by October 2013. ICD-
10 is viewed as being more nuanced...
In October 2011, JNIS published our article on the implementation of
the ICD-10 codes1. The final line of the paper was..." The authors favor
postponing implementation of ICD-10 and prefer a focus on core issues of
improving care and access.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will require all health
professionals and facilities to transition to ICD-10 by October 2013. ICD-
10 is viewed as being more nuanced and providing a greater level of detail
for what had led to an injury or illness. ICD-9 has 14,000 codes. As
outlined in the article, implementing ICD-10 nationally will require
tremendous allocation of resources. The upcoming change would require
practices learn 69,000 new codes for billing purposes.
The American Medical Association (AMA) apparently agrees. During the 65th
House of Delegate Interim Meeting of the AMA that occurred on November 15,
2011 2, delegates adopted a policy to work to stop implementation of the
new diagnosis coding set ICD-10. Alabama and Mississippi delegations, the
American Assn. of Clinical Urologists and the American Urological Assn.
introduced the resolution to stop ICD-10 implementation.
"The implementation of ICD-10 will create significant burdens on the
practice of medicine with no direct benefit to individual patients' care,"
said AMA President Peter W. Carmel, MD. "At a time when we are working to
get the best value possible for our health care dollar, this massive and
expensive undertaking will add administrative expense and create
unnecessary workflow disruptions. The timing could not be worse, as many
physicians are working to implement electronic health records into their
practices. We will continue working to help physicians keep their focus
where it should be -- on their patients."
The authors are penning this brief letter to the editor because we see
this AMA position as a relevant postscript to the paper.
References:
1. Manchikanti L, Falco FJE, Hirsch JA. Ready or not! Here comes ICD-10.
J NeuroIntervent Surg neurintsurg-2011-010155 Published Online First: 24
October 2011 doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2011-010155
2. AMA Press Release: AMA Adopts New Policies During Final Day of
Semi-Annual Meeting. November 15, 2011.
http://www.amaassn.org/ama/pub/news/news/2011-11-15-ama-adopts-new-
policies.page
Pipeline, aneurysms and the FDA
Response to "Estimating the proportion of intracranial aneurysms likely to be amenable to treatment with the pipeline embolization device." J Neurointerv Surg. 2011 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Ronil V. Chandra MBBS FRANZCR, Thabele M Leslie-Mazwi M.D and Joshua A Hirsch M.D
Department of Interventional Neuroradiology/ Endovascular Neurosurgery Massachusetts Gen...
In October 2011, JNIS published our article on the implementation of the ICD-10 codes1. The final line of the paper was..." The authors favor postponing implementation of ICD-10 and prefer a focus on core issues of improving care and access. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will require all health professionals and facilities to transition to ICD-10 by October 2013. ICD- 10 is viewed as being more nuanced...
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