Laser speckle contrast imaging versus microvascular Doppler sonography in aneurysm surgery: A prospective study

Alexis Dimanche; Johannes Goldberg; David R Miller; David Bervini; Andreas Raabe; Andrew K Dunn

doi:10.1016/j.wnsx.2024.100377

Laser speckle contrast imaging versus microvascular Doppler sonography in aneurysm surgery: A prospective study

World Neurosurg X. 2024 Apr 10:23:100377. doi: 10.1016/j.wnsx.2024.100377. eCollection 2024 Jul.

Authors

Alexis Dimanche¹, Johannes Goldberg², David R Miller³, David Bervini², Andreas Raabe², Andrew K Dunn¹

Affiliations

¹ The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Austin, TX, United States.
² Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
³ Dynamic Light Inc., Austin, TX, United States.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare microvascular Doppler sonography (MDS) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) for assessing vessel patency and aneurysm occlusion during microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: MDS and LSCI were used after clip placement during six neurovascular procedures including six patients, and agreement between the two techniques was assessed. LSCI was performed in parallel or right after MDS evaluation. The Doppler response was assessed through listening while flow in the LSCI videos was evaluated by three blinded neurovascular surgeons after the surgery. Statistical analysis determined the agreement between the techniques in assessing flow in 18 regions of interest (ROIs).

Results: Agreement between MDS and LSCI in assessing vessel patency was observed in 87 % of the ROIs. LSCI accurately identified flow in 93.3 % of assessable ROIs, with no false positive or negative measurements. Three ROIs were not assessable with LSCI due to motion artifacts or poor image quality. No complications were observed.

Conclusions: LSCI demonstrated high agreement with MDS in assessing vessel patency during microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms. It provided continuous, real-time, full-field imaging with high spatial resolution and temporal resolution. While MDS allowed evaluation of deep vascular regions, LSCI complemented it by offering unlimited assessment of surrounding vessels.

Keywords: Aneurysm clipping; Intraoperative blood flow visualization; Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI); Microvascular Doppler sonography; Vessel patency.