Digital Variance Angiography in Diagnostic Angiographies for Effective Radiation Dose Reduction

Application of Digital Variance Angiography in Diagnostic Lower Limb Angiographiy for Radiation Exposure Reduction a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Digital Variance Angiography (DVA) is a new tool in medical imaging with proven image quality reserve. The previously observed quality reserve of Digital Variance Angiography (DVA) in lower extremity angiographies, allowed to lower radiation exposure by 70 % during DSA in lower extremity diagnostic angiographies with non-inferior image quality. The aim of this study is to apply this non-inferior image quality and use it for radiation exposure reduction in diagnostic lower limb angiography. The project would prospectively block-randomise (50:50) patients, who undergo elective diagnostic angiography into two groups: a comparator group examined by means of conventional DSA using a standard care protocol (Siemens Artis Zee, Extremities Care setting, 1.2 µGy/frame) (Group B) and a study group examined by means of DVA using a low-dose protocol (0.36 µGy/frame corresponding to 70% decrease of radiation dose) (Group A). During each procedure the investigators record radiation exposure (cumulative dosage, dose area product) and contrast media usage and procedural time then compare the results of the groups. Qualitative image review is done to compare conventional DSA and reduced radiation exposure DVA images after image acquisition. Our hypothesis is that with the previously proven non-inferior image quality, the investigators will be able to reduce radiation exposure of the participants and also staff members in everyday clinical practice.

Peripheral Arterial Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Femoral Artery Stenosis, Femoral Artery Occlusion, Popliteal Stenosis, Iliac Artery Stenosis, Crural Artery Thrombosis, Limb Ischemia

Radiation protection, X-ray angiography, Digital Variance Angiography, Digital Subtraction Angiography, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Kinepict, Image acquistion, Image quality, Radiation exposure

All enrolled participants will undergo a diagnostic lower limb angiography, but the image acquisition protocol will be different. In the active comparator group a normal radiation dose will be used and the DSA images will be used for diagnosis whereas in the experimental group a low dose radiation will be applied (70% decrease compared tot he DSA protocol) and the DVA images will be used for diagnosis.

After radial/brachial/femoral artery puncture using Seldinger technique, the investigators first position a pigtail catheter above the level of the renal arteries. With Siemens Artis Zee Pure DSA machine the examiner will use a postero-anterior X-ray view for the first image, which is an aortography of some part of the iliac system. Then, the catheter will be repositioned to the aortic bifurcation and 15-18 mL contrast media (CM) with 9-10 mL/s flow for the ilio-femoral region will be injected. All of the following image series will be made from this catheter position, with a 9 mL/s flow rate. In cases for when the recorded image series will be inconclusive, image series with left/right oblique position will be recorded. All femoro-popliteal images will be recorded with 10-16 ml CM and crural regions with 12-22mml. DSA images will be calculated from all series on a dedicated Syngo workstation and used for diagnosis. DVA images will be calculated by the Kinepict Medical Imaging Tool

Blinded, anonymised and randomised qualitative review and comparison of images by multiple endovascular specialists in multiple regions using a 1-5 Likert-scale for each image. Region specific scores are compared between DSA and DVA technique.

Blinded, anonymised and randomised review of images by multiple endovascular specialists. Clinically relevant sides for each patient are reviewed in a separate questionnaire: each reviewer have to classify each patient's angiographic image according to the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document's second version.

The number of occasions when the reduced radiation level protocol has to be switched back to conventional protocol in one region because of unsuitable image quality.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with lower limb peripheral arterial disease, admitted for diagnostic angiography Fontaine II- IV Normal renal function: GFR> 60ml/min/m2 Age > 18 Exclusion Criteria: Acute myocardial infarction Severe heart/liver/renal failure Iodine contrast allergy Atrioventricular block Coagulopathy and Hematological Bleeding Disorders

Orias VI, Gyano M, Gog I, Szollosi D, Veres DS, Nagy Z, Csobay-Novak C, Zoltan O, Kiss JP, Osvath S, Szigeti K, Zoltan R, Sotonyi P. Digital Variance Angiography as a Paradigm Shift in Carbon Dioxide Angiography. Invest Radiol. 2019 Jul;54(7):428-436. doi: 10.1097/RLI.0000000000000555.

Gyano M, Gog I, Orias VI, Ruzsa Z, Nemes B, Csobay-Novak C, Olah Z, Nagy Z, Merkely B, Szigeti K, Osvath S, Sotonyi P. Kinetic Imaging in Lower Extremity Arteriography: Comparison to Digital Subtraction Angiography. Radiology. 2019 Jan;290(1):246-253. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2018172927. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

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