Contribution and advances of robotics in percutaneous oncological interventional radiology.

The advent of robotic systems in interventional radiology marks a significant evolution in minimally invasive medical procedures, offering enhanced precision, safety, and efficiency. This review comprehensively analyzes the current state and applications of robotic system usage in interventional radiology, which can be particularly helpful for complex procedures and in challenging anatomical regions. Robotic systems can improve the accuracy of interventions like microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and irreversible electroporation. Indeed, studies have shown a notable decrease of an average 30% in the mean deviation of probes, and a 40% lesser need for adjustments during interventions carried out with robotic assistance. Moreover, this review highlights a 35% reduction in radiation dose and a stable-to-30% reduction in operating time associated with robot-assisted procedures compared to manual methods. Additionally, the potential of robotic systems to standardize procedures and minimize complications is discussed, along with the challenges they pose, such as setup duration, organ movement, and a lack of tactile feedback. Despite these advancements, the field still grapples with a dearth of randomized controlled trials, which underscores the need for more robust evidence to validate the efficacy and safety of robotic system usage in interventional radiology.

The effectiveness of the Safety in Interventional Radiology (SIR) Shield in reducing droplet transmission and its effect on image quality and radiation dose.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a barrier shield in reducing droplet transmission and its effect on image quality and radiation dose in an interventional suite. METHODS: A human cough droplet visualisation model in a supine position was developed to assess efficacy of barrier shield in reducing environmental contamination. Its effect on image quality (resolution and contrast) was evaluated via image quality test phantom. Changes in the radiation dose to patient post-shield utilisation was measured. RESULTS: Use of the shield prevented escape of visible fluorescent cough droplets from the containment area. No subjective change in line-pair resolution was observed. No significant difference in contrast-to-noise ratio was measured. Radiation dosage to patient was increased; this is predominantly attributed to the increased air gap and not the physical properties of the shield. CONCLUSION: Use of the barrier shield provided an effective added layer of personal protection in the interventional radiology theatre for aerosol generating procedures. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This is the first time a human supine cough droplet visualisation has been developed. While multiple types of barrier shields have been described, this is the first systematic practical evaluation of a barrier shield designed for use in the interventional radiology theatre.

New infusion device for use in acquisition of images during endovascular procedures: an experimental model / Novo dispositivo de infusão para a aquisição de imagens durante procedimentos endovasculares: modelo experimental

Abstract Background The contrast power injector (CPI) is the gold standard method for injecting contrast with the pressure and flow needed to generate a satisfactory images during endovascular procedures, but it is an expensive tool, narrowing its wide-scale applications. One alternative is the manual injection (MI) method, but this does not generate the pressure required for adequate visualization of anatomy. It is therefore imperative to create an alternative low-cost method that is capable of producing high quality images. Objectives To compare the injection parameters of a new mechanical device (Hand-Crank) created in a university hospital with the MI method and with the contrast power injector's ideal values. Methods A circulation phantom was constructed to simulate the pressure in the aorto-iliac territory and the injection parameters of the two methods were compared in a laboratory setting. Student's t test and the Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical analysis. Three vascular surgery residents (the authors) performed the injections (each performed 9 tests using conventional manual injection and 9 tests using the Hand-Crank, totaling 54 injections). Results There were statistical differences between the two methods (p<0.05) in total volume injected until maximum pressure was attained, pressure variation, maximum pressure, total injection time, and time to reach the maximum pressure. Conclusions The Hand-Crank can achieve higher maximum pressure, higher average flow, and lower injection time than the manual method. It is a simple, low-cost, and effective tool for enhancing injection parameters in an experimental setup. It could help to produce higher quality images in a clinical scenario.

Resumo Contexto A bomba injetora é o método padrão-ouro para a injeção de contraste em aortografias. Entretanto, é uma ferramenta de alto custo, o que limita o seu uso. A injeção manual surge como alternativa, mas a pressão gerada com esse método é baixa, e, por isso, a qualidade das imagens não é usualmente satisfatória. Assim, a criação de um método de baixo custo capaz de gerar imagens de qualidade é imperativo. Objetivos Comparar os parâmetros de injeção de um novo dispositivo mecânico (manivela articulada) criado em um hospital universitário com os parâmetros da injeção manual e com os valores ideais da bomba injetora. Métodos Um simulador do território aórtico foi construído, e parâmetros de injeção entre os diferentes métodos em um cenário laboratorial controlado foram analisados. O teste t de Student e o teste de Mann-Whitney foram usados para análise estatística. Três residentes de Cirurgia Vascular realizaram os testes (nove usando o novo dispositivo, e nove usando a injeção manual, totalizando 54 injeções). Resultados Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,05) entre os dois métodos, considerando os parâmetros: variação de pressão, pressão máxima, tempo de injeção, tempo até a pressão máxima e volume até a pressão máxima. Conclusões A manivela articulada atingiu níveis superiores de pressão e de velocidade de injeção, com menor tempo de injeção do que a injeção manual. É um dispositivo simples, de baixo custo e com resultados comparáveis à bomba injetora, o que sugere seu uso potencial na geração de imagens satisfatórias em aortografias.

Interventional radiology under the era of coronavirus disease 2019: Recommendations from the Chinese College of Interventionalists.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major public health threat to the whole world. Although the control of COVID-19 has been in the forefront of interventional practice, most interventional radiologists (IRs) are not equipped adequately to cope with such a crisis. In this review, we share our experience from Chinese IRs' perspective, report on the acute measures instituted within interventional radiology (IR) units, and give recommendations to the prevention and control of COVID-19.

An initial investigation of a wireless patient radiation dosimeter for use in interventional radiology.

Radiation exposure during interventional radiology (IR) procedures is a critical issue. We have developed a wireless real-time dosimeter for IR patients that use nontoxic phosphor (four sensors). We evaluated the basic performance parameters (such as dose linearity, batch uniformity, reproducibility, and wireless-communication conditions) of the developed system using an IR X-ray system. Further, we investigated the influence of noise from other medical equipment on our wireless real-time dosimeter in the IR X-ray room. Overall, our wireless system exhibited excellent performance in terms of uniformity, reproducibility, and linearity; moreover, the wireless communication performance was better. The developed system enabled real-time visualization of patient radiation dose, without noise contamination from other medical equipment. In addition, the wireless system can be easily installed in a location where the PC screen (display) can be readily viewed by the IR physician. Hence, we developed a wireless system that can display the patient radiation dose data in real time; the system performed satisfactorily upon application in radiation dosimetry. Therefore, our wireless system will facilitate the real-time monitoring/management of patient radiation dose during IR.

Evaluation of scattered radiation dose received by medical staff during uterine artery embolization in the operating room.

BACKGROUND: The air kerma radiation doses have gained much attention since the operating room interventional radiology is a place where medical staff are exposed to a fluoroscopy environment and gain a cumulative dose during the uterine artery embolization procedure. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the radiation dose received by medical staff by applying a flat X-ray machine in the surgical room during uterine artery embolization. METHODS: An ATOM humanoid model was laid on the operating table and simulated a patient. The scattered radiation dose received by the radiologist, anesthetist and radiologic technologist was evaluated. The scintillation detector was adopted. The measurement points were 50 cm, 100 cm and 150 cm above the floor, representing the limbs, abdomen and thyroid level, respectively. We compared the X-rays under different tube voltages of 70, 80, and 90, respectively and frames per second (FPS) of 30, 15, and 7.5, respectively. We configured the dose level per pulse of 40 nGy with a fixed detector. RESULTS: In Section 1, when the tube voltage was 70 kVp and 7.5 FPS, the average radiation doses of limbs, abdomen and thyroid level was 0.48, 1.3 and 1.9 µSv/min respectively. When the tube voltage was 80 kVp and the fluoroscopy decreases from 30 FPS to 7.5 FPS, 58% of the radiation dose was reduced. When the tube voltage was 90 kVp, the radiation dose in the lead garment increased 31-177% in comparison to when the tube voltage was 80 kVp. Sections 2 and 3 were far away from the central ray, so the highest radiation dose 100 cm above the floor were 0.05 and 0.02 µSv/min. CONCLUSIONS: Lead garment can effectively reduce medical staff from occupational doses with an average attenuation rate of 90%. 80 kVp was most commonly used. Fluoroscopy 7.5 FPS was used 100 cm above the floor in A section and the lowest radiation dose was 1.33 µSv/min. The operator should decrease the duration of X-rays or adopt suspended lead shielding to decrease the radiation dose received by the operator. When kVp increases, the penetration increases. Decreasing FPS cannot decrease occupational doses of medical staff.

[Interventional radiology as emergency therapy]. / Interventionelle Radiologie als Notfalltherapie.

CLINICAL ISSUE: Both the progress of surgical techniques and the demographic development with increasing numbers of multimorbid patients demand and also encourage radiology in the setting of trauma and acute emergencies. In addition to a fast and precise diagnostics, this also includes image-guided, minimally invasive therapy to control and treat several acute pathologies. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL PROCEDURES: Computed tomography (CT) is not only important for the diagnosis of abscesses, active bleeding or other acute pathologies, but also allows minimally invasive therapy. While digital subtraction angiography (DSA) guides catheter-based procedures, e.g., to control bleedings or to place percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrain (PTCD), fluoroscopy allows the 3D-visualization to drain abdominal and thoracic abscesses. METHODOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND EVALUATION: Radiology has established itself in the treatment of acute emergencies or acute complications through gentle and usually fast minimally invasive procedures. Presumably, MRI interventions will become increasingly important in the near future and, thus, complement the portfolio. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Every clinical radiologist who works on night shifts should be able to safely carry out some basic interventional techniques in order to stabilize the patient and at least ensure medically safe bridging to the next routine workday. Due to the diversity of materials and the rarity and difficulty of some procedures, the full portfolio requires years of expertise and will therefore remain restricted to specialized interventional radiologists.

Reduction of Occupational Exposure Using a Novel Tungsten-Containing Rubber Shield in Interventional Radiology.

This study investigates whether a novel tungsten-containing rubber shield could be used as substitute shielding material in interventional radiology to reduce the occupational exposure of operators to scattered radiation from a patient. The tungsten-containing rubber is a lead-free radiation-shielding material that contains as much as 90% tungsten powder by weight. Air kerma rates of scattered radiation from solid-plate phantoms, simulating a patient, were measured with a semiconductor dosimeter at the height of the operator's eye (1,600 mm from the floor), chest (1,300 mm), waist (1,000 mm), and knee (600 mm) with and without tungsten-containing rubber shielding (1-5 mm thickness). The tungsten-containing rubber and a commercial shielding material (RADPAD) were affixed onto the phantom on the operator's side, and reductions in air kerma rates were compared. Reduction rates for tungsten-containing rubber shielding with thicknesses of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm at each height level were as follows: 70.37 ± 0.40%, 72.17 ± 0.29%, 72.95 ± 0.31%, 72.58 ± 0.35%, and 73.63 ± 0.63% at eye level; 76.36 ± 0.19%, 77.13 ± 0.10%, 77.36 ± 0.14%, 77.62 ± 0.25%, and 77.66 ± 0.14% at chest level; 67.78 ± 0.31%, 68.12 ± 0.19%, 68.88 ± 0.28%, 68.97 ± 0.14%, and 68.85 ± 0.45% at waist level; and 0.14 ± 0.94%, 0.72 ± 0.56%, 1.08 ± 0.74%, 1.77 ± 0.80%, and 1.79 ± 1.82% at knee level, respectively. Reduction rates with RADPAD were 61.80 ± 0.67%, 60.33 ± 0.61%, 64.70 ± 0.25%, and 0.14 ± 0.66% at eye, chest, waist, and knee levels, respectively. The shielding ability of the 1 mm tungsten-containing rubber was superior to that of RADPAD. The tungsten-containing rubber could be employed to minimize an operator's radiation exposure instead of the commercial shielding material in interventional radiology.

Reduction of Operator Hand Exposure in Interventional Radiology With a Novel Finger Sack Using Tungsten-containing Rubber.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the x-ray shielding ability of a novel tungsten-particle-containing rubber-based finger sack for use in interventional radiology. Shielding rates for the air kerma (mGy m) were measured using a semiconductor dosimeter with and without the finger sack and commercial lead gloves, at a 20 cm distance from the field of view. A C-arm digital angiography system was used with x-ray tube voltages of 60, 80, 100, and 120 kVp. In addition, the 70 µm dose equivalent to the operator's finger was measured using fluorescent glass dosimeters with and without the finger sack during interventional radiology examinations. The x-ray shielding rates for 60, 80, 100, and 120 kV x rays were 98.0 ± 0.03%, 94.8 ± 0.05%, 92.3 ± 0.12%, and 90.1 ± 0.03%, respectively, with the finger sack and 69.8 ± 0.39%, 61.0 ± 0.53%, 52.3 ± 0.52%, and 47.0 ± 0.69% with the lead gloves. The x-ray shielding rates for the fluoroscopy and cine mode with the finger sack were 91.3 ± 0.21% and 56.5 ± 0.58%, respectively, while with the lead gloves they were 96.5 ± 0.04% and 67.6 ± 0.33%. The 70 µm dose equivalent for the operator's finger exposure dose was reduced by approximately 39.4% using the finger sack. The finger shields were more user friendly, had excellent radiation shielding ability against x rays, and should reduce finger exposure in interventional radiology.

3D Printed Antibiotic and Chemotherapeutic Eluting Catheters for Potential Use in Interventional Radiology: In Vitro Proof of Concept Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Additive manufacturing may be used as a form of personalized medicine in interventional radiology by allowing for the creation of customized bioactive constructs such as catheters that can act as a form of localized drug delivery. The purpose of the present in vitro study was to use three-dimensional (3D) printing to construct bioactive-laden bioabsorbable catheters impregnated with antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polylactic acid bioplastic pellets were coated with the powdered bioactive compounds gentamicin sulfate (GS) or methotrexate (MTX) to incorporate these drugs into the 3D printed constructs. The pellets were then extruded into drug-impregnated filament for fused deposition modeling 3D printing. Computer-aided design files were generated in the shapes of 14-F catheters. Scanning electron microscope imaging was used to visualize the presence of the additive powders on the surface of the printed constructs. Elution profiles were run on the antibiotic-laden catheter and MTX-laden catheters. Antibiotic-laden catheters were tested on bacterial broth and plate cultures. RESULTS: Both GS and MTX catheter constructs had sustained drug release up to the 5-day limit of testing. The 3D printed GS-enhanced catheters inhibited all bacterial growth in broth cultures and had an average zone of inhibition of 858 ± 118 mm2 on bacterial plates, whereas control catheters had no effect. CONCLUSION: The 3D printing manufacturing method to create instruments in percutaneous procedures is feasible. Further in vivo studies will substantiate these findings.

American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma verification level affects trauma center management of pelvic ring injuries and patient mortality.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic ring fractures represent a complex injury that requires specific resources and clinical expertise for optimal trauma patient management. We examined the impact of treatment variability for this type of injury at Level I and II trauma centers on patient outcomes. METHODS: Trauma quality collaborative data (2011-2017) were analyzed. This includes data from 29 American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma verified Level I and Level II trauma centers. Inclusion criteria were adult patients (≥16 years), Injury Severity Score of 5 or higher, blunt injury, and evidence of a partially stable or unstable pelvic ring fracture injury coding as classified using Abbreviated Injury Scale version 2005, with 2008 updates. Patients directly admitted, transferred out for definitive care, with penetrating trauma, or with no signs of life were excluded. Propensity score matching was used to create 1:1 matched cohorts of patients treated at Levels I or II trauma centers. Trauma center verification level was the exposure variable used to compare management strategies, resource utilization, and in-hospital mortality in univariate analysis. RESULTS: We selected 1,220 well-matched patients, from 1,768 total patients, using propensity score methods (610 Level I and 610 Level II cohort). There were no significant baseline characteristic differences noted between the groups. Patients with pelvic ring fractures treated at Level I trauma centers had significantly decreased mortality (7.7% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.02). Patients treated at Level II trauma centers were less likely to receive interventional angiography, undergo complicated definitive orthopedic operative treatment, and to be admitted to an intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Admission with a partially stable or unstable pelvic ring injury to a Level I trauma center is associated with decreased mortality. Level II trauma centers had significantly less utilization of advanced treatment modalities. This variation in clinical practice highlights potential processes to emphasize in the appropriate treatment of these critically ill patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic/Decision, Level II.

Accuracy of a 3-Dimensionally Printed Navigational Template for Localizing Small Pulmonary Nodules: A Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Localization of small lung nodules are challenging because of the difficulty of nodule recognition during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Using 3-dimensional (3-D) printing technology, a navigational template was recently created to assist percutaneous lung nodule localization; however, the efficacy and safety of this template have not yet been evaluated. Objective: To assess the noninferiority of the efficacy and safety of a 3-D-printed navigational template guide for localizing small peripheral lung nodules. Design, Setting, and Participants: This noninferiority randomized clinical trial conducted between October 2016 and October 2017 at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Shanghai, China, compared the safety and precision of lung nodule localization using a template-guided approach vs the conventional computed tomography (CT)-guided approach. In total, 213 surgical candidates with small peripheral lung nodules (<2 cm) were recruited to undergo either CT- or template-guided lung nodule localization. An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. Interventions: Percutaneous lung nodule localization. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the accuracy of lung nodule localization (localizer deviation), and secondary outcomes were procedural duration, radiation dosage, and complication rate. Results: Of the 200 patients randomized at a ratio of 1:1 to the template- and CT-guided groups, most were women (147 vs 53), body mass index ranged from 15.4 to 37.3, the mean (SD) nodule size was 9.7 (2.9) mm, and the mean distance between the outer edge of target nodule and the pleura was 7.8 (range, 0.0-43.9) mm. In total, 190 patients underwent either CT- or template-guided lung nodule localization and subsequent surgery. Among these patients, localizer deviation did not significantly differ between the template- and CT-guided groups (mean [SD], 8.7 [6.9] vs 9.6 [5.8] mm; P = .36). The mean (SD) procedural durations were 7.4 (3.2) minutes for the template-guided group and 9.5 (3.6) minutes for the CT-guided group (P < .001). The mean (SD) radiation dose was 229 (65) mGy × cm in the template-guided group and 313 (84) mGy × cm in CT-guided group (P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: The use of the 3-D-printed navigational template for localization of small peripheral lung nodules showed efficacy and safety that were not substantially worse than those for the CT-guided approach while significantly simplifying the localization procedure and decreasing patient radiation exposure. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02952261.

Zerobot®: A Remote-controlled Robot for Needle Insertion in CT-guided Interventional Radiology Developed at Okayama University.

Since 2012, we have been developing a remote-controlled robotic system (Zerobot®) for needle insertion during computed tomography (CT)-guided interventional procedures, such as ablation, biopsy, and drainage. The system was designed via a collaboration between the medical and engineering departments at Okayama University, including various risk control features. It consists of a robot with 6 degrees of freedom that is manipulated using an operation interface to perform needle insertions under CT-guidance. The procedure includes robot positioning, needle targeting, and needle insertion. Phantom experiments have indicated that robotic insertion is equivalent in accuracy to manual insertion, without physician radiation exposure. Animal experiments have revealed that robotic insertion of biopsy introducer needles and various ablation needles is safe and accurate in vivo. The first in vivo human trial, therefore, began in April 2018. After its completion, a larger clinical study will be conducted for commercialization of the robot. This robotic procedure has many potential advantages over a manual procedure: 1) decreased physician fatigue; 2) stable and accurate needle posture without tremor; 3) procedure automation; 4) less experience required for proficiency in needle insertion skills; 5) decreased variance in technical skills among physicians; and 6) increased likelihood of performing the procedure at remote hospitals (i.e., telemedicine).

Effectiveness of a novel real-time dosimeter in interventional radiology: a comparison of new and old radiation sensors.

Radiation dose management is important in interventional radiology (IR) procedures, such as percutaneous coronary intervention, to prevent radiation-induced injuries. Therefore, radiation dose should be monitored in real time during IR. This study evaluated the fundamental characteristics of a novel real-time skin dosimeter (RTSD) developed at our institution. In addition, we compared the performance of our new and old radiation sensors and that of a skin dose monitor (SDM), with ion chamber reference values. We evaluated the fundamental characteristics (e.g., energy dependence, dose dependence, and angular dependence) of the RTSD developed by us in the diagnostic X-ray energy range. The performance of our RTSD was similar to that of the SDM. In particular, the new radiation sensor of our RTSD demonstrated better dose rate dependence compared to the old sensor. In addition, the new sensor had the advantage of being small in size and thus minimally affecting the X-ray images compared to the old sensor. Therefore, the developed skin dosimeter and radiation sensor may be useful in real-time measurement of patients' exposure to and multi-channel monitoring of radiation in IR procedures. The new dosimeter system can be recommended for visualization and management of the radiation dose to which the patients' skin is exposed.

Review of influential clinical factors in reducing the risk of unsuccessful MRI-guided HIFU treatment outcome of uterine fibroids.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRI-guided HIFU) is an effective noninvasive treatment option for symptomatic uterine fibroids. However, tissue characteristics of uterine fibroids and technical limitations can limit the patient population that can benefit from this therapy. In this article, we present our literature review focusing on the influential clinical factors that might reduce the risk of an unsuccessful MRI-guided HIFU treatment outcome of uterine fibroids.

Effectiveness of a new radiation protection system in the interventional radiology setting.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to examine a new weightless-like radiation protection garment regarding its radiation protection efficacy and to compare it to a conventional two-piece apron suit plus thyroid collar and standard ancillary shields. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All measurements were carried out using a clinical angiography system with a standardized fluoroscopy protocol for different C-arm angulations. An anthropomorphic torso phantom served as a scattering body. In addition, an ionization chamber was used to measure the radiation exposure on five different representative heights and at two different positions of an examiner during a typical fluoroscopic-guided intervention. RESULTS: The new weightless-like radiation protection garment and the conventional protection concept showed a mean dose reduction of 98.1% (p < 0.01) and 90.1% (p < 0.01) when compared to no shielding, respectively. By adding ancillary shields to both systems, an average reduction of 99.0% (p < 0.01) and 98.2% (p < 0.01) was found. In addition, the efficacy of both systems varied depending on the height, the C-arm angulation and position of the examiner. CONCLUSION: Combined with ancillary shields as an overall protection system, the recently introduced weightless-like radiation protection garment showed a significant better radiation protection efficacy when compared to conventional radiation protection measures.

Interventional Equipment and Radiation Safety.

Interventional radiology in veterinary medicine was adapted from techniques developed in human medicine, and has a variety of applications to treat disease in multiple body systems. Fluoroscopy is required for almost all interventional procedures, requiring knowledge of proper safety techniques for working with ionizing radiation. There are a wide variety of catheters, wires, sheaths, stents, and embolics used in veterinary medicine. Familiarity with their indications and sizing compatibility is essential for procedural success.

Early arterial access for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is related to survival outcome in trauma.

BACKGROUND: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has been used in refractory hemorrhagic shock patients. Since the optimal timing of arterial access remains unclear, we evaluated the preocclusion status of patients, and elapsed time from the arrival to the hospital is associated with the survival outcomes in the REBOA patients. METHODS: From August 2011 to December 2016, The Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology in Emergency, Critical care and Trauma-Intra-Aortic Balloon Occlusion (DIRECT-IABO) investigators registered refractory hemorrhagic shock patients undergoing REBOA from 23 hospitals in Japan. Patient characteristics, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), preocclusion and postocclusion systolic blood pressure, duration of aortic occlusion, clinical time course, and survival outcome were recorded and analyzed. Binary logistic regression analysis was used with mortality and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to demonstrate the difference between early and delayed access groups. RESULTS: Among the enrolled 207 cases, the following patients were excluded from the analysis: five since they were younger than 18 years, nine due to failed attempts at REBOA, 51 nontrauma patients, and 33 who received resuscitative thoracotomy plus REBOA. Thus, the remaining 109 cases were analyzed (30-day survivors, n = 60; nonsurvivors, n = 49). The preocclusion systolic blood pressure was higher, and both hospital arrival to initial arterial access and duration of occlusion were shorter in the survivors. Lower ISS (odds ratio, 0.944; 95% confidence interval, 0.907-0.982; p = 0.0039) and shorter arrival to access (odds ratio, 0.989; 95% confidence interval, 0.979-0.999; p = 0.034) were significantly associated with 30-day survival in the logistic regression analysis. The cutoff point of 21.5 minutes was used in the receiver operating characteristic analysis. The early access group showed a significantly shorter time of arrival to definitive hemostasis and also demonstrated a significantly higher survival in the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (p = 0.014, Log-rank test). CONCLUSION: The arrival to access time and ISS were significantly associated with mortality in the REBOA patients in Japan. The early access group demonstrated better survival. The proactive early access in the resuscitation phase might be related to better patient outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management, level V.

Evaluation of the Needle Positioning Accuracy of a Light Puncture Robot Under MRI Guidance: Results of a Clinical Trial on Healthy Volunteers.

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of Light Puncture Robot (LPR) as a patient-mounted robot, in positioning a sham needle under MRI guidance for abdominal percutaneous interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This monocentric, prospective and non-controlled study was approved by the ethics review board. The study evaluated the accuracy of LPR V3 to achieve a virtual puncture in 20 healthy volunteers. Three trajectories were tried on each volunteer, under 3-T MRI guidance. RESULTS: Accuracy under 5 mm in attaining a 10 cm-deep target was reached in 72% of attempts after 2 robot motions with a median error of 4.1 mm [2.1; 5.1]. Median procedure time for one trajectory was 12.9 min [10.2; 18.0] and median installation time was 9.0 min [6.0; 13.0]. CONCLUSION: LPR accuracy in the deployment of a sham needle inside the MRI tunnel and its setup time are promising. Further studies need to be conducted to confirm these results before clinical trials.

Evaluation of surface dose and image quality using the half-scan mode in chest computed tomography-guided interventional radiology: a phantom study.

The authors aimed to evaluate the effects of the half-scan mode on image quality and physician exposure to radiation in computed tomography (CT)-guided interventional radiology (IVR) to the right lung using an intermittent CT fluoroscopy technique for measuring phantom surface dose distribution and image noise. For the half-scan mode, settings at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° were used as the central axis of the X-ray exposure range on the chest phantom. With the center of the ventral side in the chest phantom defined as 0°, optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters were attached at five positions at 30° intervals on the right side of the phantom surface. Securing a space for device operation during the procedure is necessary. The couch was shifted downward by 50 mm to reproduce the conditions used for measurement in clinical settings. Image noise and contrast-to-noise ratio were measured to assess image quality; subjective evaluation was performed using simulated lung nodules placed in the phantom. The phantom surface dose distribution in the measured half-scan mode depended on the angle setting. Additionally, the phantom surface dose in the half-scan mode at the 90° setting was reduced by approximately 50%; however, image quality was clearly decreased. In CT-guided IVR to the right lung, using a lead drape and half-scan mode according to the procedural situation is important.