Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess whether slanted gel pads can be used to optimize beam-flow angles and flow velocity measurements for Doppler ultrasound. The right carotid artery of a single healthy female volunteer was measured alternatively five times without and with an 18° angled slanted gel pad between the ultrasound transducer and skin by 13 radiologists. Beam-flow angles and peak systolic flow velocities (PSV) were measured along with assessment of spectral broadening. Beam-flow angles (P = 0.001) and PSV (P = 0.001) measurements showed a significant decrease when using slanted gel pads. The mean (±SD) beam-flow angles without and with the use of slanted gel pads were 66.7 (±4.2) and 56.1 (±5.8) degrees, respectively. The mean (±SD) PSVs without and with the use of slanted gel pads were 92.0 (±17.4) and 76.9 (±10.9) cm/s, respectively. There was a noticeable decrease in spectral broadening when using slanted gel pads. There was a significant linear correlation between beam-flow angle and peak systolic velocity. Coefficients of variation for peak systolic velocity without and with the use of gel pads were 18.9 and 14.2 %, respectively. These results demonstrate that slanted gel pads decrease beam-flow angles and overestimation of Doppler flow velocity measurements while potentially increasing the reliability of measurements.
Highlights
Pulse Doppler velocity measurements are often used for the clinical evaluation of vascular stenosis, vascular patency, hepatic venoocclusive disease, and complications related to organ transplantation (Heijenbrok-Kal et al 2006; Park et al 2008)
Previous studies show that even with appropriate angle correction, increased beam-flow angles cause a significant overestimation of flow velocity, which is mostly due to spectral broadening (Park et al 2012; Hoskins 1996)
Park et al SpringerPlus (2016) 5:328 such cases a large beam-flow angle is used during pulse Doppler velocity measurements which often leads to significant overestimation of flow velocity (Park et al 2012; Hoskins 1999)
Summary
Pulse Doppler velocity measurements are often used for the clinical evaluation of vascular stenosis, vascular patency, hepatic venoocclusive disease, and complications related to organ transplantation (Heijenbrok-Kal et al 2006; Park et al 2008). When the flow of vessels are flowing nearly parallel to the body surface such as in the carotid arteries, portal veins, and femoral arteries, it is often difficult to obtain a small beam-flow angle during ultrasound studies. In. Park et al SpringerPlus (2016) 5:328 such cases a large beam-flow angle is used during pulse Doppler velocity measurements which often leads to significant overestimation of flow velocity (Park et al 2012; Hoskins 1999). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of slanted gel pads between ultrasound probes and patients which can decrease beam-flow angles and subsequently decrease overestimation while potentially increasing the reliability of pulse Doppler flow measurements, especially in vessels flowing nearly parallel to the body surface
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