Functional near infra-red spectroscopy in peripheral vascular disease - does it reflect changes in perfusion after endovascular intervention?

Chronic Limb Threatening Ischaemia carries a poor prognosis in terms of limb salvage and survival. There are no universally applicable non-invasive methods to quantify foot perfusion. This research project evaluated the utility of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive technique assessing tissue oxygenation, as a measure of peripheral circulation as compared to toe pressure (TP) and ankle-brachial-indices (ABI). The evaluation of changes in lower limb perfusion can be performed using fNIRS in patients undergoing endovascular revascularisation. In contrast to ABI and TP, with their limited applicability and sensitivity, fNIRS appears to follow expected changes in perfusion with successful revascularisation.