Purpose: The present study aims to describe a new 2D-3D fusion registration method in the case of endovascular redo aortic repair and compare the accuracy of the registration using the previously implanted devices vs. bones as landmarks.
Materials and methods: This single-center study prospectively analyzed all the patients that underwent elective endovascular re-interventions using the Redo Fusion technique between January 2016 and December 2021 at the Vascular Surgery Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli (FPUG)-IRCCS in Rome, Italy. The fusion overlay was performed twice, first using bone landmarks (bone fusion) and the second using radiopaque markers of a previous endovascular device (redo fusion). The pre-operative 3D model was fused with live fluoroscopy to create a roadmap. Longitudinal distances between the inferior margin of the target vessel in live fluoroscopy and the inferior margin of the target vessel in bone fusion and redo fusion were measured.
Results: This single-center study prospectively analyzed 20 patients. There were 15 men and five women, with a median age of 69.7 (IQR 42) years. The median distance between the inferior margin of the target vessel ostium in digital subtraction angiography and the inferior margin of the target vessel ostium in bone fusion and redo fusion was 5.35 mm and 1.35 mm, respectively (p ≤ 0.0001).
Conclusions: The redo fusion technique is accurate and allows the optimization of X-ray working views, supporting the endovascular navigation and vessel catheterization in case of endovascular redo aortic repair.
Keywords: endovascular procedures; fusion imaging; personalized medicine; redo aortic endovascular surgery; redo fusion imaging.