In a week marked by breakthroughs across neuroscience, oncology, and vascular intervention, U.S. clinicians and procurement leaders face a new frontier in hybrid surgical care. Three distinct innovations ranging from neuron transplantation to immuno-primed head and neck surgery, and catheter-based pulmonary embolism intervention are redefining operating room workflows, material demand, and cross-departmental Arkansas Performs First Human Interneuron Transplant for Epilepsy
In a national first, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) successfully transplanted NRTX-1001, an interneuron producing cell therapy, into the hippocampus of a patient with drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. The event marks the U.S.'s entry into a new realm of neurocellular intervention, with the first human trial of interneuron-based seizure control.
This therapy, developed by Neurona Therapeutics, aims to quiet hyperactive brain circuits by reintroducing inhibitory interneurons, a strategy validated in rodent and primate models. The trial, backed by FDA IND clearance, is designed to evaluate both safety and long-term seizure reduction. Unlike resective epilepsy surgery, which removes brain tissue, NRTX-1001 adds cellular function, potentially preserving cognition and personality.
• Specialized injection equipment and neuro-navigation systems are required.
• Cold-chain and cellular integrity protocols impact OR scheduling and pharmacy alignment.
• Long-term outcome tracking will demand integration between surgery, neurology, and imaging.
If successful, this model could influence treatment for other neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, where dysfunctional circuitry not structural damage is the root cause.
Immunotherapy Moves to the OR: Pembrolizumab Approved for Perioperative Use in HNSCC
On June 12, 2025, the FDA approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as part of the neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment plan for patients with resectable, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) expressing PD-L1.
The pivotal KEYNOTE-689 trial proved that this perioperative strategy nearly doubles event-free survival (EFS) when compared to surgery and standard radiation/chemo alone (51.8 months vs. 30.4). This makes pembrolizumab the first immunotherapy approved in this perioperative context for HNSCC.
• Surgeons must now integrate immunotherapy timing with OR scheduling doses are given preop and resumed postop.
• Oncology and surgical supply teams must coordinate to stock infusion kits, manage immune-related adverse event response tools, and adjust post-op monitoring protocols.
• Facilities must re-educate staff on handling immunotherapy near surgical margins, especially in ENT surgical environments.
This transformation creates multi-disciplinary workflows and aligns supply operations with pharma inventory strategies, something rarely seen at this scale outside of academic centers.
Mechanical Thrombectomy Device Cleared for Pulmonary Embolism
In another leap forward, the FDA granted 510(k) clearance to Inquis Medical’s Aventus System, a catheter-based tool for mechanical thrombectomy in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients.
This system allows non-surgical removal of clots from pulmonary arteries, expanding the toolbox for emergency departments and intensive care units handling high-risk PE cases. The design features dual action clot engagement and low-profile vascular access, allowing safe use in even unstable patients.
• Hospitals and IR teams must train on the new protocol for catheter-based PE removal.
• ORs and ICUs must stock compatible access sheaths, thrombus baskets, and supportive anticoagulant infusion kits.
• This system provides a non-lytic alternative to traditional thrombolysis—especially vital where bleeding risk makes drugs unsafe.
PE accounts for over 60,000 U.S. deaths annually, and non-surgical intervention is becoming the standard of care. Aventus' clearance is expected to broaden access beyond major urban hospitals to mid-sized regional centers.
“We are seeing surgery enter its next evolution—not by replacing it, but by pairing it with targeted cellular, immune, and catheter therapies. These developments require operating room leaders to think beyond scalpels and sutures. Planning now requires coordination with supply chains, biologic pharmacy logistics, and minimally invasive procedure kits that never touch a scalpel.
1. Coordinate with neurology and clinical trials teams if your center is near UAMS or participates in NRTX-1001 expansion sites.
2. Train OR-pharmacy-ENT units in perioperative immunotherapy logistics; build infusion stock rotation practices.
3. Prepare interventional suites for catheter PE extraction, including stocking compatible sheaths and clot extraction devices.
4. Develop cross-functional training—ORs must now integrate oncology, neuropharma, and vascular imaging like never before.