COLOR-CODED DUPLEX SONOGRAPHY OF THE DIGITAL ARTERIES - AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANGIOGRAPHY

By means of modern color-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) even very smal l vessels can be visualized. Maximum resolution nowadays is about 0.5 mm diameter of the vessel. We compared the use of CCDS and angiography in studying of acral perfusion. Besides morphologic criteria, hemodyn amic criteria were recorded. Arteries in healthy fingers appear as lon g and straight vessels with a clearly defined border. The physiologica l maximal blood flow velocity exceded 20 cm/s. CCDS revealed tortuosit y of finger arteries as typical finding in thrombangiitis obliterans. Segmental stenosis can either be identified morphologically or quantif ied by measurement of the flow velocity with poststenotic maximal syst olic velocities of less than 20 cm/s or by the acceleration of the blo od flow within the stenosis, as proven by angiographic examinations. C CDS is suitable for evaluation of acral perfusion in patients sufferin g from secondary Raynaud's syndrome. Apart from diagnosis of disturbed acral circulation, other possible applications of CCDS are in in the surgical field,for example replantations in hand or finger surgery.