Wysdom Radio™

This episode breaks down a 2026 Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology prospective case series evaluating transarterial embolization (TAE) as a minimally invasive treatment for chronic, refractory plantar heel pain. The study explores how targeting abnormal blood vessel growth may offer relief for patients who have exhausted traditional therapies.Clinical Problem: Nearly half of patients with plantar fasciitis remain symptomatic even after 10 years, and no single conservative treatment has consistently outperformed the others.New Approach: Rather than treating the plantar fascia itself, TAE targets the abnormal neovessels that sustain chronic inflammation and pain.Headline Result: At six months, 71% of patients responded to treatment, with major improvements in pain, quality of life, function, and a complete elimination of missed workdays among affected participants.Safety Profile: The procedure was performed as an outpatient with zero reported major adverse events and no evidence of osteonecrosis or tissue injury on follow-up MRI.Caveat: This was a small, single-center case series without a control group, so larger randomized trials are still needed to confirm how much of the benefit comes from embolization itself.Bottom Line: For patients with chronic plantar heel pain who have failed standard treatments, transarterial embolization is emerging as a promising minimally invasive option that could reshape how we approach chronic musculoskeletal pain.Tune in to learn how interventional radiology is taking on one of the most frustrating conditions in sports medicine.This podcast is generated using an AI model that has been trained in the context of endovascular surgery and interventional radiology in addition context of the article cited below. The content was reviewed and edited by multiple healthcare professionals in the field. Gill S, Hely R, Harrison B, Hely A, Landers S. Transarterial embolization to improve plantar heel pain: 6-month results from a prospective case series. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2026;37:108688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2026.108688

This episode breaks down a comprehensive 2024 Journal of Urology review on prostate artery embolization (PAE), exploring how it compares to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and medical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and why it was added to the 2023 American Urologic Association guidelines. The episode also features expert commentary from Dr. Timothy McClure of Weill Cornell Medicine, who highlights the importance of patient selection in real-world PAE practice.Clinical Question: Can PAE relieve moderate-to-severe BPH symptoms while avoiding the bleeding, recovery time, and sexual side effects of TURP?Headline Result: Across randomized trials, PAE reduced IPSS scores by 9 to 21 points, shrank prostate volume by 20 to 30%, and outperformed both sham procedures and medical therapy in symptom relief.Safety Advantage: PAE is a same-day outpatient procedure with no postoperative catheter, near-zero transfusion risk, and strong preservation of sexual function when performed with cone beam CT guidance.Trade-Off: Symptom relief is strong, but urinary flow improvements and long-term durability remain inferior to TURP, with recurrence increasing over time.Bottom Line: For patients with larger prostates who prioritize preserving sexual function, PAE is now a guideline-supported middle ground between medication and surgery. Dr. McClure also explains why identifying the right patient is key to success.Tune in to learn which BPH patients are best suited for PAE and when surgery still makes the most sense.This podcast is generated using an AI model that has been trained in the context of endovascular surgery and interventional radiology in addition context of the article cited below. The content was reviewed and edited by multiple healthcare professionals in the field. Mouli S, Salem R, McClure TD. Prostate artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2024;212:216-219. https://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003976

This episode breaks down a JVIR retrospective study on Thyroid Artery Embolization (TAE), exploring whether embolization can serve as a non-surgical alternative for high-risk patients with massive retrosternal goiters who are poor candidates for thyroidectomy. Clinical Problem: Many patients with large compressive goiters are too medically complex for surgery, leaving few options when airway compression and hyperthyroidism worsen symptoms. Endovascular Strategy: Using a femoral approach with selective embolization of thyroid feeders, operators intentionally leave at least one artery patent to achieve volume reduction while avoiding total gland necrosis and hypoparathyroidism. Headline Result: At six months, dominant thyroid nodule size and retrosternal extension were dramatically reduced, with most patients experiencing meaningful mechanical decompression and improved airway anatomy. Hormonal Benefit: Among patients with non-Graves hyperthyroidism, most became euthyroid after embolization, suggesting TAE may improve both compressive and endocrine symptoms. Caveat: This was a small retrospective study with mixed imaging modalities, short follow-up, and real procedural risks: including transient hyperthyroidism, hoarseness, and a reported 1.8% 30-day mortality rate. Bottom Line: For carefully selected poor surgical candidates with massive retrosternal goiters, thyroid artery embolization may offer a promising minimally invasive debulking strategy, but long-term durability still needs prospective study. Tune in to learn whether IR may soon have a larger role in managing patients traditionally sent straight to thyroid surgery.This podcast is generated using an AI model that has been trained in the context of endovascular surgery and interventional radiology in addition context of the article cited below. The content was reviewed and edited by multiple healthcare professionals in the field. Yilmaz S, Arıoz Habibi H, Yildiz A, Altunbas H. Thyroid embolization for nonsurgical treatment of nodular goiter: a single-center experience in 56 consecutive patients. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2021;32:1449-1456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvir.2021.06.025

This episode breaks down the newly published ARIVA trial (Circulation), a randomized study testing whether adding aspirin to rivaroxaban after post-thrombotic iliofemoral venous stenting actually improves stent patency or simply adds bleeding risk.Clinical Question: For years, endovascular specialists have reflexively prescribed dual therapy (anticoagulation + aspirin) after venous stenting, but ARIVA asks whether aspirin is actually improving outcomes in low-flow venous systems.Result: Primary patency at six months was nearly identical, 94.8% with rivaroxaban + aspirin versus 92.4% with rivaroxaban alone, suggesting no meaningful benefit to routinely adding aspirin.Bleeding Trade-Off: While major bleeding was absent in both groups, clinically relevant non-major bleeding was more than tripled with dual therapy (8.2% vs. 2.4%), with menorrhagia emerging as a major issue in this predominantly younger female cohort.Why This Matters: When synthesized with C-TRACT, ARIVA suggests we may be overtreating venous stent patients by applying arterial antiplatelet logic to fundamentally different venous biology.Caveat: ARIVA was stopped early and excluded patients with active cancer or poor medication adherence, meaning high-risk populations still require individualized decision-making.Bottom Line: For most standard post-thrombotic iliofemoral stenting cases with good inflow and optimized IVUS-guided deployment, full-dose rivaroxaban alone may be enough without the added bleeding burden of routine aspirin.Tune in to learn whether it is finally time to stop reflexively prescribing aspirin after venous stenting.This podcast is generated using an AI model that has been trained in the context of endovascular surgery and interventional radiology in addition context of the articles cited below. The content was reviewed and edited by multiple healthcare professionals in the field. Barco S, Jalaie H, Sebastian T, et al. Aspirin plus rivaroxaban versus rivaroxaban alone for the prevention of venous stent thrombosis among patients with post-thrombotic syndrome: the multicenter, multinational, randomized, open-label ARIVA trial. Circulation. 2025;151:835-846. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.073050Vedantham S, Kahn SR, Marston WA, et al. Endovascular therapy for post-thrombotic syndrome — a randomized trial. N Engl J Med. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2519001

This episode breaks down the landmark C-TRACT trial (NEJM 2026), a phase 3 randomized study testing whether iliac vein stenting plus enhanced antithrombotic therapy actually improves outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The Clinical Question: Does restoring iliac venous outflow with stenting meaningfully improve symptoms and quality of life? Result: Endovascular therapy significantly improved symptom burden, with a meaningful reduction in VCSS severity and a striking 14.5-point improvement in quality-of-life scores. Mechanical Win: Stent thrombosis was remarkably low at just 0.9%, reinforcing the importance of rigorous inflow assessment, mandatory IVUS, and aggressive stent sizing in chronic venous disease. Trade-Off: Bleeding complications were substantially higher in the intervention arm (11.6% vs. 3.6%), largely driven by prolonged dual antithrombotic therapy rather than the procedure itself. Bottom Line: For carefully selected PTS patients with good inflow and significant iliac obstruction, iliac vein stenting can deliver meaningful symptom relief, but success depends heavily on patient selection, IVUS-guided technique, and thoughtful post-op management.Tune in to learn which post-thrombotic patients actually benefit from venous stenting—and where the limits of the “open vein hypothesis” begin.

This episode breaks down a randomized controlled trial from Hepatology exploring whether prophylactic embolization of large spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) during TIPS can prevent post-procedural hepatic encephalopathy (HE).The Core Problem: Even successful TIPS can trigger HE by shunting toxins away from the liver, especially in patients with large preexisting SPSS. The Key Strategy: Embolizing SPSS before stent deployment improves visualization and avoids catastrophic coil migration after portal decompression. A High-Impact Result: Overt HE was cut nearly in half (21% vs. 48%), with a remarkable number needed to treat (NNT) of just 4. No Increased Bleeding Risk: Closing these shunts did not increase variceal rebleeding or compromise TIPS function. The Trade-Off: The procedure adds time and briefly increases portal pressure, requiring operator confidence and careful execution. The Bottom Line: In a highly selected subset of patients, combining TIPS with SPSS embolization is a powerful, anatomy-driven approach to reduce HE risk.Tune in to learn when this added step is worth it!

This episode breaks down the landmark HI-PEITHO trial (NEJM, March 2026), a multicenter randomized controlled trial of 544 patients that finally brings clarity to the category of intermediate-risk PE.The Inclusion Criteria: HI-PEITHO mandated a strict "intermediate-high" entry bar: RV:LV ratio > 1.0 plus dual objective signs of distress (e.g., HR > 100, BP < 110). It isolates the cohort most likely to crash.The 7-Hour Rapid Protocol: We discuss the operational shift away from the legacy 24-hour ICU drip. The trial utilized a concentrated, bilateral 7-hour infusion of ~17mg Alteplase via the EkoSonic system.61% Risk Reduction: The headline result: US-CDT achieved a massive relative risk reduction in the primary composite endpoint (cardio-respiratory collapse or decompensation), with an event rate of 4.0% vs. 10.3% in the heparin-only arm.The Safety Holy Grail: In a major win for the "local low-dose" strategy, there were 0% intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) in both groups. Major bleeding rates were statistically insignificant (P = 0.64), validating the safety of this sub-20mg protocol.Mechanical Thrombectomy Question: While HI-PEITHO establishes a modern benchmark for lytics, it does not address the rise of large-bore mechanical thrombectomy. It sets the safety and stabilization bar that future MT trials must now cross.Tune in to learn about the March 2026 data!

This brief covers a massive 950-patient study identifying how to predict Post-TIPS Liver Failure (PTLF), which occurs in approximately 18% of cases.The 18% Problem: With nearly 1 in 5 patients failing after TIPS, this study provides a vital roadmap for identifying high-risk candidates before they hit the table.Baseline Red Flags: Older age, a history of Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE), and celiac stenosis were found to be independent predictors of PTLF during pre-procedural workup.The Real Signals: Forget static numbers; the focus post-op must be on the peak MELD score and the percent change in INR. These are the dynamic predictors that actually matter.The AST/ALT: This study debunks "enzyme panic." While startling, AST and ALT spikes are like loud car alarms—scary, but they do not independently predict whether the liver will fail to recover.The Bottom Line: Combining clinical history with dynamic post-TIPS labs is the key to identifying candidates for early transplant evaluation before a clinical crash.Tune in to learn which post-op "alarms" are worth investigating and which you can safely ignore.

This episode highlights the MILESTONE study, a ground-breaking first-in-human trial presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) 2026 Annual Meeting. The research explores a novel endovascular approach to "rewiring" the body's metabolic control center to treat Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).A Safe Metabolic Rewire: Using a novel six-electrode catheter system, researchers performed endovascular denervation of the celiac artery and nearby aorta. The study achieved a 100% technical success rate with zero severe treatment-related adverse events, proving the safety of targeting the splanchnic sympathetic nerves.Dramatic Glycemic Control: The six-month data showed a significant metabolic shift, with average HbA1c levels dropping from 9.9% to 8.0%. Additionally, fasting plasma glucose and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) plummeted, marking a major clinical improvement without lifestyle changes.Reduced Insulin Dependency: Patients saw objective improvements in liver and beta-cell function. Most notably, daily insulin requirements were reduced from an average of 24 units down to 19 units, suggesting a future where IR interventions could minimize or replace heavy pharmacological regimens.The New Frontier: This Abstract of the Year signals the potential for Interventional Radiology to move beyond traditional vascular work and into the primary management of chronic metabolic diseases.Tune in to learn how interventional radiology is positioning itself at the center of the diabetes care team.

The COLLISION ExplainedThis episode breaks down the practice-changing COLLISION Trial (Lancet Oncology, 2025) and explores how the IR community must scale its skills to meet the new standard of care.The Mic Drop: For decades, surgical resection was the undisputed gold standard for Colorectal Liver Metastases (CRLM). The COLLISION trial randomized patients eligible for both surgery and thermal ablation. The trial was stopped early for benefit, proving that ablation is non-inferior for overall survival (Hazard Ratio 1.05).The Staggering Cost Difference: While survival was equal, the physical toll was not. Surgery resulted in a 46% adverse event rate and a 4-day median hospital stay. Ablation cut complications to 19%, reduced the hospital stay to just one day, and had a 0% treatment-related mortality rate.The A0 Margin Mandate: To match surgical success, IRs must achieve an A0 margin—a visible 5mm buffer of ablated tissue surrounding the tumor on post-procedure imaging. Achieving this margin ensures the absence of local progression in 95% of cases.Scaling the Skillset: We discuss how the platform Wysdom (founded by Dr. Rusty Hoffman) is replacing the outdated "see one, do one, teach one" model. Through bite-sized "Clinical Pearls" and private "Morning Rounds," Wysdom provides just-in-time digital mentorship, allowing community IRs to learn complex techniques (like hydrodissection) necessary to achieve that critical A0 margin.Tune in to hear why the default question at the tumor board is shifting from "Can we cut it out?" to "Why wouldn't we ablate this first?" Based on comments from experts, content on Wysdom, and the article cited below.Puijk RS, Ruarus AH, Vroomen LGPH, et al. Colorectal liver metastases: surgery versus thermal ablation (COLLISION) - a phase III single-blind prospective randomized controlled trial. BMC Cancer. 2018;18(1):821. Published 2018 Aug 15. doi:10.1186/s12885-018-4716-8

AHA/ACC 2026 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary EmbolismThe alphabet soup of societies (AHA/ACC/ACCP/ACP) has officially released the 2026 Multi-Society PE Guidelines. These guidelines move the field away from the blunt submassive labels and into a new era of granular, physiology-driven care.Categories Classifications A–E: The 2011 AHA labels are officially retired. We now use a spectrum from Category A (Subclinical) to Category E (Cardiopulmonary Failure). Key for IR: Advanced therapies are now strictly reserved for Categories D and E, while most Category C patients (even with RV strain) remain on medical management unless they deteriorate.The "R" Modifier: A new suffix for patients whose primary threat is respiratory failure rather than hemodynamic collapse (e.g., Category C2R), allowing for a more nuanced triage during PERT activations.Reading Room Mandate: The guidelines emphasize that clot volume does not equal risk. Radiologists must now prioritize reporting RV dysfunction parameters—including RV:LV ratio, McConnell’s sign, and TAPSE—as these are the data points that actually drive the A–E categorization.IVC Filter Pullback: In a major shift, routine IVC filter placement in anticoagulated patients is now a Class III: Harm recommendation. They are strictly limited to patients with absolute contraindications to anticoagulation or those failing therapy.The "Clot in Transit" Data Vacuum: For the 2-4% of patients with floating intracardiac thrombus, the guidelines admit a lack of randomized data, mandating a multidisciplinary PERT decision rather than a fixed surgical or interventional algorithm.Tune in to master the new rules of engagement for the IR suite and ensure your reports meet the 2026 standard. Based on comments from experts, content on Wysdom, and the guidelines cited below.Writing Committee Members*, Creager MA, Barnes GD, et al. 2026 AHA/ACC/ACCP/ACEP/CHEST/SCAI/SHM/SIR/SVM/SVN Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. Published online February 19, 2026. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001415