Ro. Raninen et al., Graft patency evaluation with colour-Doppler ultrasonography after bypass surgery in Takayasu's arteritis: A direct colour-flow lumen imaging method, EUR J VAS E, 16(6), 1998, pp. 525-529
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY
Objectives: to assess the feasibility and potential diagnostic usefulness o
f colour-Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) to detect complications of supra-aorti
c vascular bypass grafts in Takayasu's arteritis (TA).
Design: a prospective study.
Materials: nine supra-aortic grafts in six patients with Takayasu's arterit
is.
Methods: the minimal, maximal, and true colour-flow image diameters of the
lumens of the grafts were measured and stenoses, occlusions, and dilatation
s were evaluated and compared with angiographic findings.
Results: the sensitivity for detection in >50% stenoses and in total occlus
ions was 75% while specificity was 100%. Only one 40% stenosis had been ove
rlooked in whole. The maximal difference of stenosis by two methods was oth
erwise 20%.
Conclusions: CDFI was in general able to expose stenoses in supra-aortic gr
afts, but the lack of visibility of some grafts throughout their length cau
se the false results. It appears that some angiographies can be replaced by
CDFI and that this is a suitable method for follow-up in symptom-free pati
ents with grafts.