CEUS assessment of foot perfusion.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of foot perfusion: a feasibility study in a normal population
IRAS ID
232913
Contact name
Robert Hinchliffe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 4 days
Research summary
Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of foot perfusion: a feasibility study in a normal population\n\nThis study aims to understand if it is feasible to measure ultrasound contrast in the soft tissue of the foot as a biomarker for perfusion. Ultrasound contrast is a liquid solution containing microbubbles mixed in water, and is known as contrast because it appears particularly bright on ultrasound imaging. This study is important as we know that patients with diabetes are susceptible to receiving ulcers on their feet, which can be very difficult to heal. One explanation for this is that problems in the smaller blood vessels of the foot have stopped working effectively; however the current technology we have to assess this is expensive and/or unreliable. CEUS has demonstrated promising results in recent studies however no one has yet investigated if this is possible in the foot. We plan to perform a single study feasibility study, recruiting 16 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18-60 at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. The first 6 volunteers would participate in a feasibility protocol. This aims to determine if there is a significant difference between baseline measures of contrast intensity and a peak measure of contrast intensity after contrast is injected into the veins, on the soft tissue on the bottom of the foot. If this demonstrates viable measurements then 10 volunteers would be recruited to assess the repeatability of the time to peak intensity measurement on soft tissue on both the bottom and the top of the foot. The study will last no longer than 6 months. The results could potentially impact how patients with diabetic foot ulcers are managed in the future.\n
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0006
Date of REC Opinion
2 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion