Abstract
PurposeThe effectiveness of real-time feedback using an audible pulse in renal Doppler ultrasonography was evaluated.MethodsThis study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital. Written informed consent was provided by all volunteers at enrollment. The 26 healthy volunteers enrolled in this study underwent Doppler ultrasound of both kidneys using audible and inaudible pulses in randomized order and at 1-week intervals. Doppler waveforms were obtained at the interlobar or arcuate arteries using a 2-mm Doppler gate. Each session was considered complete when reproducible waveforms were obtained for 5 s in three predefined regions of the kidney. The scan times needed to obtain waveforms of the right and left kidneys were recorded separately. Measurements were compared using a paired t-test and a two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test.ResultsThe total recorded Doppler sonography scan time for each kidney ranged from 33 to 146 s. The mean scan time was 56.83 s (right, 58.19 s; left, 55.46 s) in the audible session and 72.58 s (right, 72.08 s; left, 73.08 s) in the inaudible session. The scan times were significantly shorter in the audible than inaudible session (p<0.001), whereas the difference in the scan times between the right and left kidneys was not significant. The order of the sessions had no effect on the total scan time.ConclusionReal-time feedback using an audible pulse may encourage patient cooperation during breath-holding and can shorten the time needed to perform Doppler ultrasonography.
Highlights
In renal Doppler ultrasonography, the resistive index (RI), defined as the/peak systolic velocity at the renal segmental arteries, is considered to be a good indicator of renal vascular resistance [1,2,3]
We recently observed that cooperation during Doppler ultrasonography is better when the patient can hear the sound of the pulses
Mancini et al found that diabetic patients with higher RI values had a higher degree of proteinuria, which suggests the value of this measurement in the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy [6]
Summary
In renal Doppler ultrasonography, the resistive index (RI), defined as the (peak systolic velocity —end diastolic velocity)/peak systolic velocity at the renal segmental arteries, is considered to be a good indicator of renal vascular resistance [1,2,3]. Even minimal changes in respiration or position can influence the Doppler waveforms and the successful measurement of RI [7]. Both the time needed for Doppler assessment and the quality of the scan are largely dependent on the ability of the patient to hold his or her breath for the required duration. We recently observed that cooperation during Doppler ultrasonography is better when the patient can hear the sound of the pulses. The purpose of this study was to prospectively determine the clinical effectiveness of real-time feedback using audible pulses in renal Doppler ultrasonography
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