Is There Room for a Venous Debulking Device? 15 Specialists Weigh In
At a busy congress, physicians rarely have time for long interviews, so short, focused conversations work best.
A manufacturer wanted to know whether a new debulking device was viable. Key questions were what role debulking plays in today’s standard of care, whether there is an unmet need, and how physicians would react to the product.
Interviews took place in person at the VIVA meeting in Las Vegas. Each lasted about 20 minutes, short enough to fit between congress sessions.
The final sample was 15 physicians:
8 vascular surgeons
5 interventional radiologists
2 interventional cardiologists
They worked across academic, public, and teaching hospitals.
The sample was experienced and venous-focused. Physicians had a median of 13 years post-fellowship, and venous work made up an average of 43% of their caseload. Median annual volumes were:
40 DVT patients
44 sclerotherapy procedures
30 IVC filter placements and removals
Volumes varied widely, from 15 to 220 venous stents a year.
That spread was useful. High-volume specialists could judge where debulking fits in complex cases, while lower-volume physicians showed how the device might be seen more broadly.
A short, focused format at a specialist venous meeting gave the client a fast read on market need and product reaction.
