Doppler Assessment (doppler + assessment)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The Use of Intraoperative Doppler Assessment to Guide the Surgical Treatment of Anomalous Right Coronary Arteries

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 5 2008
Louis H. Stein M.H.S.
Because of this risk, many patients elect surgical correction of this anomaly. Surgical strategies for correction of this include ostioplasty, coronary artery reimplantation, and, more commonly, coronary artery bypass grafting. After coronary artery bypass grafting, some advocate ligation of the proximal RCA, speculating that competitive flow will cause graft failure. As no objective criteria for this have been established, we propose a method using of intraoperative Doppler flow measurements to guide the decision to preserve the proximal anomalous native vessel. We present three cases in which an RCA with an anomalous origin from the left sinus was corrected with coronary artery bypass grafting with the assistance of intraoperative Doppler flow measurements to guide the decision to preserve the proximal anomalous native vessel. In each case, the RCA was bypassed using a saphenous vein graft (SVG) that was used to bypass origin of the RCA. Flow through the graft was compared with and without ligation of the proximal RCA, before creation of the proximal anastomosis. In each case, flow through the SVG was not significantly reduced with the proximal RCA patent and ligation was not performed. [source]


Power Doppler assessment of overall disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 1 2006
Adem Kiris MD
Abstract Purpose. To examine synovial vascularity and flow patterns in hand and wrist joints,metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and ulnar stiloid (USTL) regions,of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using power Doppler sonography (PDUS) and spectral Doppler analysis and to assess the accuracy of PDUS in detecting overall disease activity in RA patients. Methods Two hundred forty MCP joints and 48 USTL regions in 24 RA patients were examined. Patients were categorized into 2 groups,active and inactive,according to the American College of Rheumatology remission criteria. Resistance indexes (RIs) were measured. Results Flow signals were detected in 50 MCP joints (in 13 patients) and 24 USTL regions (in 16 patients) and spectral analysis was performed in 46 MCP joints (12 patients) and 23 USTL regions (16 patients). The sensitivity and specificity of PDUS in detecting disease activity in RA were 92% and 40%, respectively. There was a negative correlation between flow signal number and RI, with higher scores of flow signals corresponding to lower RIs. Conclusion PDUS appears to be a reliable method for assessing inflammatory activity in rheumatoid synovium. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound34:5,11, 2006 [source]


Methods for prenatal assessment of fetal cardiac function

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 13 2009
Tim Van Mieghem
Abstract Fetal cardiac function is increasingly recognized as a marker of disease severity and prognosis in selected fetal conditions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used in experimental (animal) fetal cardiology but the lack of a noninvasive fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) to trigger image acquisition remains a major limiting factor precluding its application in humans. Fetal medicine specialists are therefore limited to ultrasound to evaluate human fetal cardiac function. In this review, we aim to provide a complete overview of the different ultrasound techniques that can be used for fetal cardiac function assessment and we discuss their (theoretical) strengths and shortcomings. Conventional methods include M-mode assessment of ventricular contractility and Doppler assessment of the precordial veins and cardiac output (CO). More recent techniques such as the measurement of the myocardial performance index (MPI), myocardial motion analysis with tissue Doppler, speckle tracking and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound techniques are also discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Sonographic atypical vascular coiling of the umbilical cord

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 1 2005
Antonella Cromi
Abstract Objective To investigate whether an atypical umbilical coiling pattern at prenatal sonography is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Methods A targeted sonographic evaluation of the umbilical cord (UC) was performed in 758 women with singleton gestation, and gestational age above 20 weeks. Atypical coiling was defined as the presence of a spring-shape UC (supercoiling) or an unusual, aperiodic coiling pattern (uncoordinated coiling). Umbilical artery Doppler assessment was conducted in cases with atypical coiling. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were investigated. Results Of the study population, 7 and 16 fetuses had an umbilical cord with uncoordinated coiling and supercoiling respectively. Three umbilical cords had a single umbilical artery. Eight patients delivered before 34 weeks of gestation. Eight fetuses were growth restricted. In seven cases, abnormal sonographic findings were detected (three meconium peritonitis, two severe hydronephrosis and two cardiac anomalies). One fetus affected by trisomy 18 presented multiple anomalies. Perinatal death occurred in three cases. Of the surviving newborns, eight were admitted to NICU. Umbilical artery Doppler waveforms presented a systolic notch in seven (30.4%) cases. Conclusions The presence of an atypical umbilical cord vascular coiling is associated with an increased risk of unfavourable pregnancy outcome. The identification of an umbilical artery notch at Doppler investigation is frequently associated with an atypical UC coiling pattern. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Aortic isthmus Doppler velocimetry: role in assessment of preterm fetal growth restriction

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 5 2010
M. M. Kennelly
Abstract Intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) is an important pregnancy complication associated with significant adverse clinical outcome, stillbirth, perinatal morbidity and cerebral palsy. To date, no uniformly accepted management protocol of Doppler surveillance that reduces mortality and cognitive morbidity has emerged. Aortic isthmus (AoI) evaluation has been proposed as a potential monitoring tool for IUGR fetuses. In this review, the current knowledge of the relationship between AoI Doppler velocimetry and preterm fetal growth restriction is reviewed. Relevant technical aspects and reproducibility data are reviewed as we discuss AoI Doppler and its place within the existing repertoire of Doppler assessments in placental insufficiency. The AoI is a link between the right and left ventricles which perfuse the lower and upper body, respectively. The clinical use of AoI waveforms for monitoring fetal deterioration in IUGR has been limited, but preliminary work suggests that abnormal AoI impedance indices are an intermediate step between placental insufficiency-hypoxemia and cardiac decompensation. Further prospective studies correlating AoI indices with arterial and venous Doppler indices and perinatal outcome are required before encorporating this index into clinical practice. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]