CLINICAL-VALUE OF RENOVASCULAR RESISTIVE INDEX MEASUREMENT IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE OBSTRUCTIVE UROPATHY

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical use of the renal resistive index in identifying patients with acute urinary tract obstruction. Materials and Methods: Of 54 patients with suspected acute urinary tract obstruc tion who underwent measurements of renal resistive index 19 had unilat eral obstruction documented with excretory urography and comprise our study sample. The contralateral nonobstructed kidneys served as contro ls. Criteria for obstruction were a resistive index of 0.70 or greater or a side to side difference of 0.10 or greater. We calculated sensit ivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Resul ts: Sensitivity for obstruction was 42% with 11 false-positive cases, specificity was 79%, and positive and negative predictive values were 67 and 57%, respectively. Conclusions: Renal resistive index measureme nts are not valuable in detecting acute urinary tract obstruction.