Fusion Imaging Improves Surgical Guidance for Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease

Results of a new study demonstrated the effectiveness of Fused Fluoroscopic/Echocardiographic Imaging (FFEI) for interventional procedures in children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD).

Researchers presented the study ‘Procedural Guidance Using a Fused Fluoroscopic/Three Dimensional Echocardiography Imaging System in Congenital Heart Disease’ during the annual meeting of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE; Boston, MA, USA). The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine (Aurora, CO, USA) and Philips Research North America (Briarcliff Manor, NY, USA).

The study revealed that using the FFEI system for children with CHD gave superior results in 21 (80%) out of 25 children, and none of the treatments were graded as inferior. Around 40,000 children are born every year in the US with CHD, and up to 10,000 children require surgery.

Primary Investigator Pei-Ni Jone, MD of Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora, Colorado), said, “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. 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”.

Related Links:
American Society of Echocardiography
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Philips Research North America