The use of duplex ultrasound arterial mapping (DUAM) and preoperative diagnostics in patients with atherosclerotic ischaemia of lower extremities.

UNLABELLED: In spite of the fact duplex Doppler ultrasonography is recognized as an scanning technique equivalent to other imaging methods for preoperative diagnostics of the lower extremity arteries, in many centres its use is limited to screening.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: was to the determine usefulness of arterial duplex mapping for preoperative diagnostics in patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2008-2009, 103 patients with PAOD symptoms (129 limbs) were examined in a prospective, non-randomized study. DUAM was performed in all limbs, DSA in 90, CT-angio in 29, and revascularisation procedures in 116 limbs.

RESULTS: Problems with completing DUAM occurred in 10,1% of cases, including 1.5% of examinations of no diagnostic value. Consistency of DUAM and DSA results was found in 94.6% of cases, and consistency of DUAM results and the range of actually performed ranges was found in 97.8% of cases. Consistency of DUAM and CT-angio results was recorded in 68.0% of cases. The comparison between individual examinations and the actually performed procedures showed consistency of 96.5% for DUAM and 72.4% for CT-angio.

CONCLUSIONS: DUAM usefulness for detecting and defining lesions in lower extremity arteries is similar to that of DSA and CT-angio. This examination may be successfully used in preoperative diagnostics, particularly for intravascular procedures, which makes possible to reduce exposition to radiation and minimalize diagnostics costs.