Fusion Imaging Improves Surgical Guidance in Congenital Heart Disease Repairs

Fused fluoroscopic/ echocardiographic imaging (FFEI) system is feasible and improves surgical guidance in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease, says researchers of a study.

An estimated 40,000 children are born in the United States each year with various forms of Congenital Heart Disease, with at least a quarter of those requiring some type of surgical intervention.

While FFEI systems have been used in adult patients undergoing various cardiac procedures, its use has not been widely explored during catheterization procedures in pediatric patients.

In this study, the FFEI system was successfully used in 25 patients with congenital heart disease from January, 2013 to January, 2015. Twenty out of 25 procedures were graded as superior (80%) and none were graded as inferior.

"These results show that procedural guidance using FFEI systems in congenital heart disease is not only feasible, but it also provides improved guidance over the current standard of care," noted Primary Investigator Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, Children's Hospital Colorado.

"Future studies might explore whether the FFEI system could decrease exposure to radiation with decreased use of fluoroscopy, which would be an important additional benefit in such a young population," Dr. Jone concluded.

Researchers on the study, Procedural Guidance Using a Fused Fluoroscopic/Three Dimensional Echocardiography Imaging System in Congenital Heart Disease, include Pei-Ni Jone, Michael DiMaria, and Thomas Fagan from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, CO; and John Bracken of Philips Research North America in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

Dr. Jone will present a poster based on this research on Monday, June 15, 2015, during the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 26th Annual Scientific Sessions at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA.

This research, along with over 400 other abstracts presented at the conference, demonstrates ASE's renewed commitment to innovation, as reflected in the Society's new three-year goals, which include the aim to facilitate the development and application of novel cardiovascular ultrasound technology. This abstract has also been selected to be featured in the ASE Scientific Sessions Highlights session, from 1-2:30 pm in Room 312 on Tuesday, June 16.

Source: Medindia