Mr Ashraf Elsharkawy

Pioneering a Safer EVAR: UHCW Hosts the UK's First IVUS-Assisted EVAR Course

We at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) successfully delivered the UK's first dedicated IVUS-Assisted Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) course, bringing together vascular specialists for two days of education, innovation, and live procedural demonstrations. The course focused on the growing role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in EVAR and its potential to transform endovascular practice. EVAR is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms, traditionally relying on fluoroscopic imaging and iodinated contrast agents. While highly effective, these techniques expose patients and healthcare professionals to ionising radiation and contrast-related risks. The first day of the course explored radiation safety and highlighted how IVUS can significantly reduce, and in selected cases potentially eliminate, the need for both radiation and contrast during EVAR procedures. By providing a real-time, 360-degree intraluminal view of the aorta and iliac vessels, IVUS enables accurate vessel assessment, device sizing, graft deployment, and procedural verification while enhancing safety for patients, operators, and the wider theatre team. A key highlight of the programme was the second day, during which delegates observed two IVUS-assisted EVAR procedures transmitted live from the operating theatre. The live cases offered a unique opportunity to demonstrate practical workflow integration, procedural decision-making, and the advantages of IVUS-guided aneurysm repair in real-world clinical practice. The course brought together consultant vascular surgeons from across the UK and generated highly positive feedback from attendees. The success of the event reflects our commitment to advancing vascular innovation, improving patient safety, and promoting excellence in endovascular education. The course marks an important milestone in the adoption of IVUS-guided EVAR in the United Kingdom and reinforces UHCW's position as a leading centre for innovation in vascular and endovascular surgery.

Treatment of a Symptomatic Carotid Web: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Carotid web is a rare cause of stroke particularly in young patients and should be considered in your differential diagnosis. We published a case report to increase the knowledge about this rare condition.