BackTable Vascular & Interventional

BackTable
  • 4.8 (145)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

The BackTable Podcast is a resource for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and other interventional and endovascular specialists to learn tips, techniques, and the ins and outs of the devices in their cabinets. Listen on BackTable.com or on the streaming platform of your choice. You can also visit www.BackTable.com to browse our open access, physician-catered knowledge center for all things vascular and interventional; now featuring practice tools, procedure walkthroughs, and expert guidance on more than 40 endovascular procedures.

  1. 11m ago

    Ep. 651 Radioembolization Workflow: Insights & Best Practices with Dr. Nima Kokabi and Dr. Kirema Garcia-Reyes

    What does it really take to run a high-volume Y-90 program that is efficient, scalable, and patient-centered? In this episode of BackTable 2026 HCC Creator Weekend™, host Dr. Zach Berman is joined by Drs. Nima Kokabi and Kirema Garcia-Reyes to break down the systems, workflows, and strategies that drive successful radioembolization centers. The conversation focuses on overcoming referral and insurance delays, implementing multidisciplinary clinics, and using tools like single-session Y-90 and routine post-treatment dosimetry to reduce treatment times and improve outcomes. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by an educational grant from Sirtex and Boston Scientific. --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction04:46 - Multidisciplinary Model on Radioembolization08:39 - Referral Pathways and Embolization Preferences13:18 - Y-90 Follow Up and Imaging15:51 - Procedure Preparation and Involvement18:00 - Dosimetry Planning and Software ROI22:59 - Analyzing Outcomes and Quality Control26:47 - Various Ways to Expedite Treatments34:04 - Wrap Up and Credits --- More about this episode The doctors discuss the importance of robust internal systems for patient selection, integration of dosimetry planning, and standardized follow-up protocols.They share insights on procedural workflows, including best practices for dosimetry ownership and equipment setup, and highlight the growing role of post-Y-90 dosimetry as both a quality control measure and a billable service. The episode also explores the order-map-treat paradigm, the impact of multidisciplinary tumor boards and clinics, and how single-session strategies are reshaping HCC care by cutting delays, reducing costs, and enhancing the patient experience. --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    36 min

  2. 4d ago

    Ep. 650 IVC Filters: Indications, Techniques, & Best Practices with Dr. Daniel O'Neal

    Routine doesn’t mean risk-free. What should be considered before, during, and after inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, interventional radiologist Dr. Daniel O’Neal (Ohio State University) joins guest host Dr. Jessica Yoon to walk through the workup protocols, technical considerations, and multidisciplinary approaches required for placing and following up on IVC filters. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by RADPAD® Radiation Protectionhttps://www.radpad.com/ --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction02:10 - IVC Filter Basics07:37 - Workup and Contraindications12:18 - Pre-Procedural Imaging and Timing14:35 - Procedural Technique18:53 - Cavagram and Variant Anatomy23:18 - Filter Positioning and Deployment30:02 - IVC Filter Complications33:58 - Post-Placement Follow-Up39:14 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks --- More about this episode The physicians review the key indications for the procedure, highlighting evidence-based patient selection and emphasizing the need for interventional radiologists to critically assess the clinical workup rather than function merely as technicians. They discuss how a comprehensive pre-procedural workup relies on cross-sectional imaging to identify access obstacles and to plan for adequate filter placement in cases of variant anatomy. Dr. O’Neal also shares technical tips from the suite, including deployment mechanics, positioning considerations, and strategies for preventing common complications. The conversation concludes with the IR’s ongoing responsibility to ensure a robust, multidisciplinary follow-up system with referring specialties, outlining potential strategies to ensure these devices are safely retrieved in a timely manner when no longer indicated. --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    43 min

  3. May 26

    Ep. 649 Y90 Radioembolization Dosimetry: Techniques & Challenges with Dr. Nima Kokabi and Dr. Riad Salem

    Can the right dosimetry approach turn palliative Y90 into a curative therapy? In this episode of the BackTable 2026 HCC Creator Weekend™, Interventional oncologists Dr. Riad Salem, Dr. Nima Kokabi, and Dr. Zach Berman examine modern Y90 dosimetry, from the decline of body-surface-area calculations to newer strategies that tailor treatment intensity to tumor burden, liver reserve, and clinical intent. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by an educational grant from Sirtex and Boston Scientific. --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction03:16 - MIRD and Dosing Considerations06:20 - BSA Is Dead09:26 - Early Stage Segmentectomy13:04 - Sphere Density Questions18:12 - CPN as the Goal18:41 - BCLC B Multifocal Strategy22:56 - Radiation Lobectomy Explained25:49 - Surgery and Adhesions28:59 - Advanced PVT Patients30:22 - Dosisphere and Biomarkers34:29 - Wrap Up --- More about this episode The doctors discuss how to choose how much radiation treatment to give and why “activity” (what you order) is different from “dose” (what tissue receives). The episode goes on to compare one-area calculations with more nuanced methods that distinguish tumor from healthy tissue, and explains why advanced 3D planning is often simpler after treatment than before. The discussion also covers treatment goals for various clinical scenarios, such as when to aim for complete ablation versus palliation, managing radiation lobectomy, and tailoring therapy in cases with portal vein tumor thrombus. The episode concludes with insights on how imaging informs treatment intensity and how local and systemic therapies work together in the latest Y90 approaches. --- Resources Combination treatment with transarterial chemoembolization, radiotherapy, and hyperthermia (CERT) for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis: Final results of a prospective phase II trialhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5581058/ A global evaluation of advanced dosimetry in transarterial radioembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma with Yttrium-90: the TARGET studyhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35394152/ Y90 Radioembolization Significantly Prolongs Time to Progression Compared With Chemoembolization in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinomahttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27575820/ Long-Term Overall Survival After Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinomas: Updated Analysis of DOSISPHERE-01 Trialhttps://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2024/01/10/jnumed.123.266211 --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    36 min

  4. May 22

    Ep. 648 Engaging Medical Students in Interventional Radiology with Dr. Aaron Rohr

    How do you build a pipeline for passionate, well-prepared interventional radiologists from day one of med school? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, Dr. Aaron Rohr, interventional radiologist and associate professor at the University of Kansas, joins guest host Dr. Jessica Yoon to discuss how IR is accessed, taught, and experienced by medical students throughout their early education. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction02:49 - Finding IR: Then and Now06:54 - Challenges of Teaching IR in Core10:07 - How IR Thinks Through Problems14:40 - MAVIRIC Symposium20:09 - Engaging Teaching Models27:26 - Increasing Clinical Presence of IR30:17 - Leadership in Educational Initiatives35:57 - Reflections and Advice for Educators39:15 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks --- More about this episode The physicians explore ways in which the transition from traditional fellowship models to integrated IR training pathways has increased the specialty’s visibility for early learners while also pointing out obstacles that continue to hinder greater integration of IR into the core medical curriculum. They discuss how IR’s involvement in diverse systems and disease processes offers valuable opportunities for comprehensive clinical learning, but simultaneously makes the specialty challenging for students with structured rotations to engage within a longitudinal fashion. Dr. Rohr goes on to highlight the Mid-America Vascular and Interventional Radiology Initiative Collegium (MAVIRIC), a student-led, faculty-supervised program hosted by KUMC that aims to introduce medical students to clinical, technical, and industry-related aspects of IR. He reflects on the effectiveness of hands-on interaction with devices and physicians’ demonstration of passion for their practice in piquing student interest. While acknowledging the burden of labor beyond work hours that such initiatives often demand of doctors and students alike, the physicians express their optimism for the growth of IR’s presence both in the hospital ecosystem and in the medical curriculum. --- Resources MAVIRIChttps://www.maviric.org/ --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    43 min

  5. May 19

    Ep. 646 Embolization Techniques for Pulmonary AVMs: Expert Insights with Dr. Nima Kokabi and Dr. Brian Funaki

    Pulmonary AVM may be rare, but missing them can lead to lifelong complications, especially in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). How do you choose the right device and strategy to ensure long-term success with embolization? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, host Dr. Kavi Krishnasamy is joined by Dr. Brian Funaki and Dr. Nima Kokabi to unpack the evolving treatment landscape for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM). Through imaging breakdown, review of challenging real-world cases, and a discussion on advanced treatment strategies, the conversation tackles a key debate in pulmonary embolization: are plugs replacing coils as the new standard? --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by Okamihttps://okamimedical.com/ --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction01:43 - Defining HHT and PAVM05:53 - Democratizing Interventions for HHT Patients08:83 - Recommendations to Embolize PAVM13:19 - Imaging Specificity and Procedural Preferences23:29 - Persistence Rates with Plugs and Coils25:59 - Lag in Utilization of Plugs29:18 - Comparison of LOBO to Alternative Vascular Plugs34:26 - Post Embolization Symptoms and Troubleshooting Methods39:04 - PAVM Cases and Treatments54:26 - Wrap Up and Credits --- More about this episode The discussion begins by defining HHT and PAVM, highlighting the risks associated with untreated PAVM and the critical need for genetic screening and multi-organ evaluation. Drs. Funaki and Kokabi review current treatment recommendations, surveillance imaging, and follow-up protocols, with special considerations for pediatric and high-risk patients. They explore practical tips for optimizing embolization performance, focusing on device selection and the evolving role of vascular plugs. By comparing different plug designs, such as wire count and pore size, and sharing lessons from challenging cases, including persistent lesions, tortuous anatomy, and pseudoaneurysm management, they provide advanced troubleshooting and decision-making strategies to achieve more durable, successful PAVM treatments. --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    56 min

  6. May 15

    Ep. 645 GJ Tubes: Best Practices & Managing Complications with Dr. Kevin Wong

    Why are some GJ tubes more prone to failure, and what can you actually do about it? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, Dr. Chris Beck hosts Dr. Kevin Wong, a pediatric interventional radiologist at the University of South Alabama, to discuss the complexities of gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tube management in hospital-based IR, especially in pediatric patients. The discussion offers clinically relevant guidance on troubleshooting, device selection, and multidisciplinary approaches to enhance GJ tube care and improve patient outcomes. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction05:40 - Etiologies of GJ Tube Dislodgement and Placement Considerations 12:17 - Spiral Upsizing Solutions14:30 - Parent Education Playbook19:34 - Indications for GJ Conversion21:55 - Criteria for GJ Removal24:12 - Preferred Low-Profile Tube Designs27:15 - Addressing Suboptimal Angles and Guidewire Selection31:26 - Strategies to Prevent Tube Occlusion33:34 - Wish List for Industry 36:12 - Balloon Assisted Placement Techniques37:58 - Wrap Up and Credits --- More about this episode The doctors explore why GJ tubes fail and how to manage common complications, such as balloon failures, vomiting-induced dislodgement, stoma enlargement, and recurrent malfunction due to poor gastrostomy angle or architecture, often seen with surgically placed G-tubes. Dr. Wong shares prevention strategies, including parent education on balloon-volume checks and refills, sending patients home with a backup G-tube, minimizing upsizing, and addressing traction and granulation tissue (including the use of silver nitrate). He also covers approaches to clog management such as warm water, Coke, aggressive flushing, and avoiding routing medications through the G port. The episode wraps up with a discussion on device preferences (AMT G-JET versus MIC-KEY), tips for wire and catheter exchanges, and the need for industry improvements in materials and lumen design. --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    40 min

  7. May 12

    Ep. 644 Optimizing Liver Transplant Pathways and Decision-Making with Dr. Neil Mehta and Dr. Ari Cohen

    A high-functioning HCC tumor board can turn complex transplant decisions into coordinated treatment plans that account for liver reserve, tumor biology, and evolving biomarkers. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast 2026 HCC Creator Weekend™, abdominal transplant surgeon Dr. Ari Cohen (Ochsner Health) and transplant hepatologist Dr. Neil Mehta (UCSF) join host Dr. Kavi Krishnasamy to map out strategies for effective multidisciplinary treatment and transplantation planning in HCC. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- This podcast is supported by an educational grant from Sirtex and Boston Scientific. --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction00:51 - Starting a Tumor Board06:39 - Building Referral Streams09:03 - Academic and Community Practice Integration14:31 - Treatment Selection Criteria20:38 - Modern HCC Biomarkers25:24 - Role of ctDNA and Biopsy29:37 - Bridging Therapy on Transplant Waitlist32:34 - Downstaging Strategy and Risks39:25 - Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks --- More about this episode The physicians discuss what it takes to build a robust tumor board, from fostering hospital buy-in to engaging leaders across specialties and utilizing virtual formats for consistent participation. The conversation explores clinical decision-making, emphasizing the integration of AFP-L3 and DCP biomarkers alongside AFP to better understand tumor biology and predict post-transplant recurrence. Dr. Mehta and Dr. Cohen also share their patient selection criteria, discussing how bilirubin, liver disease etiology, and INR influence decisions. While radiographic guidance remains central to HCC management, they highlight the growing potential of reliable ctDNA analysis and other biomarkers. The specialists conclude by emphasizing that an integrated, communicative tumor board is the most effective way to navigate the nuances of liver reserve and HCC biology to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. --- Resources Sustained AFP-L3 or DCP expression is associated with progression risk and inferior outcomes in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-025-01877-8 --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    38 min

  8. May 8

    Ep. 643 Early Ambulation Post-Arterial Closure: Best Practices with Dr. David Johnson

    Can arterial closure devices transform your OBL workflow and get patients moving sooner? In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, Dr. Mike Barraza sits down with Interventional Radiologist Dr. Dave Johnson to discuss the ins and outs of launching and running an office-based lab (OBL) in Florida. While covering startup logistics, staffing, regulatory requirements, and cost-saving strategies, the conversation centers on how the use of arterial closure devices can streamline workflow, speed post-procedure recovery, and enhance both efficiency and patient care in the OBL setting. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Terumohttps://www.terumo.com/ --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction01:31- Launching The OBL04:41- Logistics And Staffing07:14 - Standardizing Supplies11:57 - OBL vs. Hospital Cases15:30 - Patient Experience Benefits17:41 - Efficiency And Throughput20:49 - Closure Devices For Flow23:28 - Early Ambulation With AngioSeal26:14 - Anticoagulation Decisions28:31 - AngioSeal Access Technique30:20 - Avoiding Hostile CFA Access32:19 - Choosing SFA or Radial34:04 - Do You Need Groin Runs36:14 - Closure Device Fundamentals38:53 - Ultrasound Guided AngioSeal45:11 - Post Op Monitoring Checklist --- More about this episode Dr. Johnson explains that some procedures, such as Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE), may still require a hospital setting due to insurance coverage, patient preference, or unique clinical needs. He compares patient experiences in OBLs versus hospitals, emphasizing the advantages of privacy, convenience, and personalized communication in the OBL environment. A major challenge discussed is managing post-procedure recovery and patient throughput with limited holding beds, where femoral arterial closure devices like Angio-Seal are essential for early ambulation and efficient turnover. The discussion highlights best practices for access site selection, ultrasound guidance, and post-closure assessment, providing actionable insights for IR physicians aiming to optimize office-based procedures. --- Resources Cost Comparison of Prostatic Artery Embolization Between In-Hospital and Outpatient-Based Lab Settingshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39310461/ Prostate Artery Embolization: Indication, Technique and Clinical Resultshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29975976/ Ultrasound-guided angio-seal deploymenthttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25735527/ --- BackTable Vascular & Interventional (VI) is the go-to podcast for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists. Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty. ► https://www.backtable.com/app

    55 min
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The BackTable Podcast is a resource for interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and other interventional and endovascular specialists to learn tips, techniques, and the ins and outs of the devices in their cabinets. Listen on BackTable.com or on the streaming platform of your choice. You can also visit www.BackTable.com to browse our open access, physician-catered knowledge center for all things vascular and interventional; now featuring practice tools, procedure walkthroughs, and expert guidance on more than 40 endovascular procedures.

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