DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY OF THE VENA-SAPHENA BY PASS

In 13 patients who underwent a femorodistal revascularisation with an in situ saphena vein graft and who had been operated on by angioscopic technique, intraoperative angiography and postoperative colour-coded Doppler sonography and i.v./i.a. digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were performed to detect arteriovenous fistulas (AV fistulas). In int raoperative completion angiography no AV fistulas were seen. Colour-co ded Doppler sonography and DSA studies performed three to five days po stoperatively revealed AV fistulas in 8 patients. The fistulas could b e exactly located by sonography, and, if confirmed haemodynamically si gnificantly by i.v./i.a. DSA, they were marked on the skin and ligated . In the detection of AV fistulas in in situ saphenous vein grafts ope rated by angioscopic technique colour-coded doppler sonography and i.v ./i.a. DSA showed equivalent results. In the detection of connections of AV fistulas to the deep draining veins the i.v./i.a. DSA was superi or.