Graft patency evaluation with colour-Doppler ultrasonography after bypass surgery in Takayasu's arteritis: A direct colour-flow lumen imaging method

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.