ANGIOGRAPHY AND COLOR-FLOW DUPLEX ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF PERIPHERAL ISCHEMIC OCCLUSIVE ARTERIAL-DISEASE

Colour now duplex ultrasonography (CFDUS) was performed in 50 patients with advanced peripheral ischaemic disease scheduled for conventional angiography. Atherosclerosis was diagnosed by the appearance of plaqu e and spectral broadening Haemodynamically significant stenosis was re presented as a doubling of peak systolic velocity expressed as peak ve locity ratio. Occlusion was diagnosed by the lack of colour saturation and absence of Doppler wave form. In the pelvis and thigh/knee region the sensitivity and specificity exceeded 90% except for stenoses, whe re the sensitivity was lower. The run-off was evaluated by examination of the tibial and peroneal arteries to at least midcalf. If 2 open ar teries were identified, or, if only the posterior tibial artery was pa tent, the run-on was considered good. Compared to angiography the sens itivity and specificity exceeded 90%. We conclude that CFDUS is an acc urate non-invasive method for preoperative screening of patients with peripheral ischaemic disease.