Validation of a Sagittal Section Technique for Measuring Clitoral Blood Flow. Volume Flow: A New Parameter in Clitoral Artery Doppler

Abstract

BackgroundClitoral artery Doppler has been used as an objective technique to measure changes in genital women response. However, the technique has not been fully validated, and arterial volume flow has never been used as an outcome measure. AimsTo validate the technique clitoral artery Doppler measured in a sagittal section and explore arterial volume flow as a new parameter in clitoral Doppler. MethodsWe examined 90 healthy volunteers by clitoral artery Doppler using the sagittal section approach described by Battaglia et al in 2008. We calculated intraobserver, interobserver, and intraobserver intersession variability and reliability for all Doppler parameters and described and validated arterial volume flow as a new parameter in clitoral artery Doppler. OutcomesWe calculated peak systolic velocity (PSV), time-averaged maximum velocity, time-averaged mean velocity, end-diastolic velocity, pulsatility index, resistance index, and volume flow (v-flow) in all groups. We conducted reliability analyses using the intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement. We explored differences between and within observers and calculated agreement limits using the Bland-Altman test. ResultsThe intraclass correlation coefficient analysis showed correlation values higher than 0.75 (good reliability) for most of the variables and higher than 0.60 (moderate reliability) for the remaining ones. There were statistically significant differences between PSV and time-averaged maximum velocity in the intraobserver intersession measurements. For the remaining groups and variables, no statistically significant differences were observed. Bland-Altman analyses showed that the limits of agreement were acceptable and the regressions were not significant. The v-flow parameter also showed good reliability and low variability between groups. Clinical ImplicationsWe found that PSV was not a good outcome measure because of its high intraobserver and intersession variability. Moreover, it is possible to measure v-flow in the clitoral artery using the sagittal technique described by Battaglia et al, and it seems that this measure is reliable and reproducible. This could be the best parameter to assess clinical changes. Strengths & LimitationsThis study provided full validation of the sagittal section approach and of a new parameter, v-flow, which could beuseful for assessing clitoral blood flow. The main limitation of the study is its retrospective nature for validating v-flow. ConclusionWe found that clitoral artery Doppler measured using a sagittal approach is a valid and reliable technique for studying clitoral blood flow in women. The v-flow variable is a promising and reliable parameter for measuring changes in clitoral blood flow.Pérez MF, Agís IF, La Calle Marcos P, et al. Validation of a Sagittal Section Technique for Measuring Clitoral Blood Flow: Volume Flow – A New Parameter in Clitoral Artery Doppler. J Sex Med 2020;17:1109–1117.