Efficacy of Fusion Imaging in Endovascular Revascularization of the Superficial Femoral Artery

The demand for endovascular revascularization (ER) to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) has steadily increased. However, ER comes at the cost of increased contrast and radiation exposure, particularly in more complex cases. Fusion imaging is a new technology that may address these issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fusion imaging in ER of the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

Patients with PAD undergoing ER of the SFA from February 2016 to July 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. A group of patients treated using fusion imaging was compared with a control group treated without fusion imaging. The primary end points were the contrast dose, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, and operative time.

A total of 51 patients (fusion group, n = 26; control group, n = 25) underwent ER during the study period. Significantly lower iodinated contrast doses were observed in the fusion than in the control group (56.1 ± 23.7 vs. 87.9 ± 44.9 mL; P = 0.003), as well as significantly shorter fluoroscopy times (21.2 ± 11.1 vs. 44.9 ± 31.4 min; P = 0.001), lower radiation exposure (29.9 ± 8.9 vs. 122.2 ± 223.1 mGy; P = 0.04), and shorter operative times (88.3 ± 32.1 vs. 126.1 ± 66.8 min; P = 0.013).

The use of fusion imaging technology during ER of the SFA can significantly reduce the contrast dose, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, and operative time.