Endovascular therapy with PTA or PTS for central venous stenosis is safe, with low rates of technical failure. Multiple additional interventions are the rule with both treatments. Although neither offers truly durable outcomes, PTS does not improve on the patency rates more than PTA and does not add to the longevity of ipsilateral hemodialysis access sites.

Digital noise reduction schemes are being used in most hearing aids currently marketed. Unlike the earlier analog schemes, these manufacturer-specific algorithms are developed to acoustically analyze the incoming signal and alter the gain/output characteristics according to their predetermined rules. Although most are modulation-based schemes (ie, differentiating speech from noise based on temporal characteristics), spectral subtraction techniques are being applied as well. The purpose of this article is to overview these schemes in terms of their differences and similarities.

Endoluminal therapy for SFA occlusive disease yields lower assisted patency rates and higher restenosis rates for those patients presenting with claudication who have more advanced diabetes (ie, IDDM). Among those patients presenting with CLI, particularly those with tissue loss, limb salvage rates are lowered for the diabetic groups (NIDDM and IDDM) despite equivalent patency and restenosis rates.

Catheter directed thrombolysis without universal prophylactic IVC filter placement is safe and effective in treating acute DVT. Pulmonary embolization did not occur during CDT. Selective rather than routine IVC filter placement is a safe and appropriate approach.

CAS for radiation arteritis has poor long-term anatomic outcome and can present with late asymptomatic occlusions. These findings suggest that these patients require closer postoperative surveillance and raise the question of whether CAS is appropriate for carotid occlusive lesions caused by radiation arteritis.