The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) in Ottawa, Canada has successfully adopted Vena Medical’s Balloon Distal Access Catheter (BDAC) into its stroke treatment protocol. This follows a comprehensive evaluation through the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization’s (OBIO) Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN), highlighting the device as a “leap forward” in mechanical thrombectomy effectiveness.
“The Ottawa Hospital is always focused on enhancing patient outcomes through innovative solutions,” said Ellen Odai Alie, director of medical imaging at TOH. “Integrating Vena Medical’s BDAC into our treatment protocol means that more patients can be treated successfully on the first try—marking a significant advancement in stroke care.”
The Vena BDAC combines balloon guide and distal access catheter technologies with the intention of significantly improving the first-pass effect (FPE) in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. FPE is the successful removal of a blood clot on the first attempt during thrombectomy, which is vital for reducing brain damage—and, by enhancing this critical factor, the BDAC seeks to decrease the debilitating effects and mortality associated with strokes, thereby improving recovery times and overall patient outcomes.
This advancement addresses the “pressing health and economic challenges of stroke care”, offering a promising improvement for those affected by this serious health issue, as stated in a press release.
Recent evaluations at TOH indicated significant improvements in stroke treatment outcomes with the BDAC. FPE increased to 64%—well above the industry average of 44%—and the results also suggest notable improvements in patient health at the 90-day mark, particularly in terms of functional independence. The adoption of the BDAC at TOH highlights its vital role in enhancing stroke care and improving treatment outcomes, the release also notes.
“It’s great to see The Ottawa Hospital putting themselves on the map as an early adopter and champion of innovation in Canada,” said Michael Phillips, Vena’s co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO). “Through EAHN, TOH is the first in the world to adopt Vena Medical’s latest stroke technology, the Vena Balloon Distal Access Catheter as their device of choice. Canadians continue to be the first to benefit from this cost-lowering and outcome-improving technology developed right in their backyards before it takes the rest of the world by storm.”
“OBIO is pleased to support the adoption of Vena Medical’s latest stroke technology at The Ottawa Hospital through EAHN,” added Maura Campbell, president and CEO of OBIO. “This project exemplifies how EAHN can introduce innovative technologies across the healthcare system to improve treatment outcomes and recovery times for serious conditions, including stroke.”
