Device use trends in neuroendovascular procedures in the United States from 2015 to 2020

BackgroundNeuroendovascular therapies involve an everchanging landscape of new technologies. Understanding the real-world timeframe of adaptation of such technologies can provide further guidance on mechanisms that could be employed to shorten the duration necessary for the widespread use of proven therapies. In this study, we aim to investigate the trends in the use of neuroendovascular technologies, utilizing the sales of neuroendovascular devices, as a proxy for procedural volume.MethodsUtilizing a device sales data registry from the Decision Resources Group, a healthcare research and consulting company, we examined trends in the sales of devices utilized in cerebrovascular thrombectomy, cerebral aneurysm treatment, and carotid stenting from the same 407 reporting hospitals in the United States between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2020. Device sales per year were plotted as both the total number of devices sold per year as well as the percent of total device sales when compared against at least one other device. The Cochran-Armitage test for trend was performed when comparing at least two devices to each other. Analyses were performed using RStudio Version 1.1.456 (https://rstudio.com).ResultsBetween 2015 and 2020, there was a significant increase in the use of flow-diverting stents as well as nondiverting stents utilized for coil assistance. However, the total number of coils utilized over the years has declined. In terms of stroke therapy, between 2015 and 2020, there was a trend of increased use of both aspiration catheters as well as stent retrievers, which plateaued in 2020. The number of stents used for carotid procedures has also been gradually increasing over time.ConclusionOur study demonstrates an increase in the use of flow-diverting stents, nondiverting stents, carotid stents, and reperfusion devices for acute ischemic stroke intervention between 2015 and 2020. Coil use for aneurysmal treatment has declined.