Comprehensive imaging of microcirculatory changes in the foot during endovascular intervention - A technical feasibility study

Abstract

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) has a major impact on patients' lives and is associated with a heavy health care burden with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment by endovascular intervention is mostly based on macrocirculatory information from angiography and does not consider the microcirculation. Despite successful endovascular intervention according to angiographic criteria, a proportion of patients fail to heal ischemic lesions. This might be due to impaired microvascular perfusion and variations in the supply to different angiosomes. Non-invasive optical techniques for microcirculatory perfusion and oxygen saturation imaging have the potential to provide the interventionist with additional information in real-time, supporting clinical decisions during the intervention. This study presents a novel multimodal imaging system, based on multi-exposure laser speckle contrast imaging and multi-spectral imaging, for continuous use during endovascular intervention. The results during intervention display spatiotemporal changes in the microcirculation compatible with expected physiological reactions during balloon dilation, with initially induced ischemia followed by a restored perfusion, and local administration of a vasodilator inducing hyperemia. We also present perioperative and postoperative follow-up measurements with a pulsatile microcirculation perfusion. Finally, cases of spatial heterogeneity in the oxygen saturation and perfusion are discussed. In conclusion, this technical feasibility study shows the potential of the methodology to characterize changes in microcirculation before, during, and after endovascular intervention.

Keywords: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia; Microcirculation; Multi-exposure laser speckle contrast imaging; Multi-spectral imaging.