Volume flow estimation by colour duplex.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of volume blood flow using a digitised colour duplex scanner.


METHODS
Observer-blinded experimental study.


METHODS
Method comparison was performed with linear regression analysis of 89 paired observations in 11 anaesthetised pigs. A Siemens Sonoline Elegra ultrasound system was used for transcutaneous volume flow estimation using invasive transit time flowmetry by Cardiomed as a reference.


RESULTS
For the individual measurement we found a standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 22 ml/min. For the regression line, however, the SEE was only 0.2 ml/min.


CONCLUSIONS
Digitised colour-duplex sonography has a volume flow measurement error that is too high for single measurements in the individual patient for the method to be useful in clinical decision making, but sufficient for examinations of groups and comparison of groups.
Licht
P B
PB
Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Christensen
H W
HW
Røder
O
O
Høilund-Carlsen
P F
PF
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001810:Blood Volume; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D016014:Linear Models; D009333:Neck; D012212:Rheology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013552:Swine; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data