Research methodology and practical issues relating to the conduct of a medical device registry

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in High-Risk Medical Device Registries: A Scoping Review

Little is known about the methods and outcomes of patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) use among high-risk medical device registries. The objective of this scoping review was to assess the utility and predictive ability of PROMs in high-risk medical device registries. We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, APA PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases for published literature. After searching, 4323 titles and abstracts were screened, and 262 full texts were assessed for their eligibility. Seventy-six papers from across orthopedic (n = 64), cardiac (n = 10), penile (n = 1), and hernia mesh (n = 1) device registries were identified. Studies predominantly used PROMs as an outcome measure when comparing cohorts or surgical approaches (n = 45) or to compare time points (n = 13) including pre- and postintervention. Fifteen papers considered the predictive ability of PROMs. Of these, 8 treated PROMs as an outcome, 5 treated PROMs as a risk factor through regression analysis, and 2 papers treated PROMs as both a risk factor and as an outcome. One paper described PROMs to study implant survival. To advance methods of PROM integration into clinical decision-making for medical devices, an understanding of their use in high-risk device registries is needed. This scoping review found that there is a paucity of studies using PROMs to predict long-term patient and clinical outcomes in high-risk medical device registries. Determination as to why PROMs are rarely used for predictive purposes in long-term data collection is needed if PROM data are to be considered suitable as real-world evidence for high-risk device regulatory purposes, as well as to support clinical decision-making.

Level of Evidence 4

Post-market surveillance of medical devices: A review

BACKGROUND

Medical devices (MDs) represent the backbone of the modern healthcare system. Considering their importance in daily medical practice, the process of manufacturing, marketing and usage has to be regulated at all levels. Harmonized evidence-based conformity assessment of MDs during PMS relying on traceability of medical device measurements can contribute to higher reliability of MD performance and consequently to higher reliability of diagnosis and treatments.

OBJECTIVE

This paper discusses issues within MD post-market surveillance (PMS) mechanisms in order to set a path to harmonization of MD PMS.

METHODS

Medline (1980-2021), EBSCO (1991-2021), and PubMed (1980-2021) as well as national and international legislation and standard databases along with reference lists of eligible articles and guidelines of relevant regulatory authorities such as European Commission, Food and Drug Administration were searched for relevant information. Journal articles that contain information regarding PMS methodologies concerning stand-alone medical devices. National and international legislation, standards and guidelines concerning the topic.

RESULTS

The search strategy resulted in 2282 papers. Out of those only 24 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria and were finally included in the review. Papers were grouped per categories: medical device registry, medical device adverse event reporting, and medical device performance evaluation. In addition to journal articles, national and international legislation, standards, and guidelines were reviewed to assess the state of PMS in different regions of the world.

CONCLUSION

Although the regulatory framework prescribes PMS of medical devices, the process itself is not harmonized with international standards. Particularly, conformity assessment of MDs, as an important part of PMS, is not measured and managed in a traceable, evidence-based manner. The lack of harmonization within PMS results in an environment of increased adverse events involving MDs and overall mistrust in medical device diagnosis and treatment results.

Update on the TREO endograft device: overview of its safety and efficacy

INTRODUCTION

The TREO abdominal aortic stent graft system (Terumo Aortic, Sunrise, Fla) is a low-profile, trimodular endovascular endoprosthesis for the endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The objective of the present study was to collect and discuss all the available modern data of this device highlighting especially its mid-and long-term clinical results.

AREAS COVERED

This updated review article presents the most current results from great-scale clinical studies and the RATIONALE registry involving also angulated neck anatomies and challenging AAA geometries, reflecting the real-world experience.

EXPERT OPINION

The global, multicenter RATIONALE registry prospectively enrolled 202 patients (mean age 73.0 ± 7.8 years) who underwent EVAR. Technical success, primary clinical success and assisted primary patency rate was 96%, 92.2% and 97%, respectively. The clinical success at 1 year was 96%. Another multicenter, non-randomized, clinical trial confirmed also high technical and clinical success. Additionally, a comparative study comparing favorable and hostile necks in AAA, demonstrated a comparable technical success (95.2%), achieving proper sealing and technical success in the hostile neck group. TREO endograft seems to be safe and effective for EVAR, especially in hostile neck anatomies. Long-term outcomes from ongoing registries are awaited to complete these results.

Design, implementation, and management of an international medical device registry

BACKGROUND

Registries are powerful clinical investigational tools. Although in hospitals registries may be mandated, industry-sponsored, international registries are voluntary and therefore can require clearer objectives and more planning. The registry also needs sufficient resources and appropriate measurement tools to motivate long-term participation and ensure success.

METHODS

We summarize our learnings from 10 years of running a medical device registry that surveys patient-reported benefits of hearing implants.

RESULTS

We enlisted 77 participating clinics globally, who actively recruited a total of more than 1500 hearing implant users. We identified the stages in developing a registry specific to hearing loss. Furthermore, we report the challenges and successes in design and implementation and make recommendations for future registries.

CONCLUSIONS

Data collection infrastructure needs to be kept up to date throughout the defined registry lifetime, and it is essential to oversee data quality and completeness. Compliance at registry sites is important for data quality and needs to be weighed against the cost of site monitoring. To motivate sites to enter data accurately and expeditiously, we facilitated easy access to their own data which helped to support their clinical routine.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02004353. 9th December 2013.

The TREO abdominal aortic stent-graft system

Endovascular aneurysm repair has become a primary treatment modality for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms due to its less invasive nature and improved peri-operative mortality rates compared with conventional open surgery. Long-term, endovascular aneurysm repair is hindered by the need for reintervention due to a variety of reasons. Device improvements are directed toward improving these long-term outcomes. The current manuscript highlights some of the details of the Terumo Aortic TREO abdominal aortic stent-graft, which was approved in 2020 for clinical use by the US FDA. A brief review of the available clinical outcomes from the US trial, as well as experience in the rest of the world, are provided demonstrating its excellent performance.

Safety and effectiveness of the TREO stent graft for the endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

The short- and mid-term outcomes of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair have made it a standard treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, newer generation devices have yet to demonstrate improved long-term rates for complications, reinterventions, and survival. The TREO stent graft is a latest generation device and was evaluated for approval in the United States.

METHODS

In a multicenter, nonrandomized, investigational device exemption clinical trial, we assessed the safety and effectiveness of the TREO device, with core laboratory assessment of the imaging studies and an independent adjudication of safety. The primary effectiveness endpoint was successful aneurysm treatment at 1 year. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of major adverse events (MAE) at 30 days.

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients (132 men; 88.0%) with infrarenal abdominal aortic (87.3%) or aortoiliac (12.7%) aneurysms were enrolled. The data were normally distributed. The mean age was 71.7 ± 7.4 years. The MAE incidence at 30 days was 0.7%. One subject experienced two MAE: myocardial infarction and procedural blood loss of 1000 mL. The proportion of successful aneurysm treatment at 1 year was 93.1%. Longer term follow-up continues, with no aneurysm-related mortality at the latest follow-up. At 3 years, the cumulative all-cause mortality and incidence of type I and type III endoleaks was 10.7% (n = 16), 2.7% (n = 4), and 0% (n = 0), respectively. In addition, aneurysm sac shrinkage >5 mm at 3 years had occurred in 54.3% of patients, and 9.3% had required a secondary intervention (n = 14).

CONCLUSIONS

The safety and effectiveness of endovascular repair of abdominal aneurysms with TREO were demonstrated, with 93.1% successful aneurysm treatment at 1 year and aneurysm sac shrinkage >5 mm at 3 years in 54.3% of patients. Long-term follow-up continues to determine whether these favorable outcomes will be sustained.

Early results of a low-profile stent-graft for thoracic endovascular aortic repair

PURPOSE

To assess outcomes of a low-profile thoracic stent-graft in the treatment of thoracic aortic pathologies.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with aortic thoracic pathologies treated with the RelayPro device in two university hospitals between October 2018 and July 2019.

RESULTS

23 patients (65% men; mean age 63.4 ± 15 years) were treated. Pathologies included aortic dissections (n = 10), 5 residual type A (22%) and 5 type B (22%), 6 degenerative aortic aneurysms (26%), 4 penetrating aortic ulcers (17%), and aortic erosion, intramural hematoma and aortic rupture (n = 1 and 4% in each case). Two cases (9%) were emergent and two urgent. Proximal landing was achieved in zones 0 (4%), 1 (4%), 2 (43%), and 3 (26%). Five grafts were frozen elephant trunk extensions. Technical success was 100% with accurate device deployment in the intended landing zone of the aortic arch in all 23 patients and with no Ia/III endoleaks and three (13%) type II endoleaks. Apposition was adequate in 96%. Two patients had post-implantation syndromes (one fever, one leukocytosis). Mean follow-up was 11.6 ± 3.7 months (range, 2-16) with no other complications, secondary interventions or conversions to open surgery. There was no 30-day mortality and no aortic-related mortality; all-cause mortality was 4% during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

A 3-4 French reduced profile in the current generation of stent-grafts facilitates TEVAR particularly in patients with smaller vessels access. Early safety and effectiveness outcomes are favorable, even in endpoints such as deployment accuracy and apposition which may be surrogates for longer-term clinical success and durability.

Lifecycle evidence requirements for high-risk implantable medical devices: a European perspective

INTRODUCTION

The new European Union (EU) Regulations on medical devices and on in vitro diagnostics provide manufacturers and Notified Bodies with new tools to improve pre-market and post-market clinical evidence generation especially for high-risk products but fail to indicate what type of clinical evidence is appropriate at each stage of the whole lifecycle of medical devices. In this paper we address: i) the appropriate level and timing of clinical evidence throughout the lifecycle of high-risk implantable medical devices; and ii) how the clinical evidence generation ecosystem could be adapted to optimize patient access.

AREAS COVERED

The European regulatory and health technology assessment (HTA) contexts are reviewed, in relation to the lifecycle of high-risk medical devices and clinical evidence generation recommended by international network or endorsed by regulatory and HTA agencies in different jurisdictions.

EXPERT OPINION

Four stages are relevant for clinical evidence generation: i) pre-clinical, pre-market; ii) clinical, pre-market; iii) diffusion, post-market; and iv) obsolescence & replacement, post-market. Each stage has its own evaluation needs and specific studies are recommended to generate the appropriate evidence. Effective lifecycle planning requires anticipation of what evidence will be needed at each stage.