USE OF SONICATED ALBUMIN (INFOSON) TO ENHANCE ARTERIAL SPECTRAL AND COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING

Purpose: To examine the effect of an ultrasound contrast medium (UCM), Infoson, on Doppler examination of stenotic arteries. Methods: Stenos es were created in the common carotid artery of six piglets, and exami ned with spectral Doppler and color Doppler imaging during UCM infusio n in the left ventricle. Results: UCM caused a mean increase in record ed maximal systolic and end-diastolic velocities of 5% and 6%, respect ively, while blood flow remained constant, Increased spectral intensit y with UCM was accompanied by spectral broadening. Reduction of spectr al intensity by adjustment of Doppler gain counteracted the velocity e ffects and the spectral broadening, With color Doppler, UCM caused dos e-dependent color artifacts outside the artery. Flow in narrow stenose s could be visualized with UCM. Conclusion: The effects of UCM on velo city measurements were slight, and were related to changes in spectral intensity, With color Doppler, UCM may facilitate flow detection, but color artifacts may interfere.