US-BASED EVALUATION OF HEMODYNAMIC PARAMETERS IN THE COMMON CAROTID-ARTERY - A NOMOGRAM TRIAL

PURPOSE: To evaluate hemodynamic data of the common carotid artery (CC A) with an ultrasound (US)-based technique in an age-and sex-matched h ealthy population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurements from a color M- mode tracing of each CCA in 205 healthy subjects (age range, 20-87 yea rs) were performed with a time domain processing system. Lumen change of the color M-mode tracing, now velocity, volume now rate, and diasto lic volume index (DVI) were calculated five times. Blood pressure was measured after the US examination. Fifteen subjects were excluded from the nomogram trial because of hypertension, and 12 and four subjects were excluded because of an asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis or at rial fibrillation, respectively. RESULTS: Mean volume now rate in the CCA of the remaining 174 healthy volunteers was 415.0 mL/min +/- 87.0 (men [n = 84], 441.0 mL/min +/- 95.5; women [n = 90], 390.2 mL/min +/- 70.5). The following statistically significant associations were note d: between vessel lumen and sex and blood pressure; between peak systo lic velocity and sex and age; between volume flow rate and sex, age, a nd systolic blood pressure; and between DVI and age, heart rate, and s ystolic and diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Time domain processi ng is an intrasessionally well-reproducible US method for measuring ve locities and volume now in the CCA.