DOPPLER ANALYSIS OF HEMODIALYSIS GRAFTS - RESISTIVE INDEX AS A PREDICTOR OF STENOSIS

A series of six hemodialysis vascular access patients was evaluated wi th duplex Doppler sonography and angiography to identify Doppler sonog raphic parameters that are predictors of venous outflow stenosis. This preliminary series indicates that no venous outflow stenosis was pres ent angiographically when the resistive index gradient across the veno us anastomosis is less than or equal to zero and a significant venous outflow stenosis (50 to 100%) was present when the resistive index gra dient is 0.15 or greater (P = 0.002, r = 0.963). Doppler acquisition o f resistive index gradients across regions of venous outflow is a prom ising, noninvasive means of rapid radiologic evaluation of hemodialysi s graft patients, especially when the need for angiography is equivoca l.