Interobserver variation of colour duplex scanning of the popliteal,tibial and pedal arteries.
OBJECTIVE
to determine interobserver variation in the measurement of Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) and grading of disease by means of Duplex scanning (DS) in the popliteal, tibial and pedal arteries.


METHODS
prospective validation study.


METHODS
twenty-four consecutive patients with severe claudication (n=6), ischaemic rest pain (n=11) and tissue loss (n=7).


METHODS
two vascular technologists independently examined the popliteal, tibial and pedal arteries. The PSV was recorded in 15 arterial segments that were graded with B-mode and Doppler parameters as fully patent, severely diseased or occluded. Concordance in PSV recordings was expressed as intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Agreement in artery assessment was expressed as weighted kappa-values.


RESULTS
the ICC for PSV measurements was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.86 to 0.93) within the popliteal and tibial arteries and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.81) within the pedal arteries. Agreement for grading disease was good within the popliteal and tibial arteries (kappa 0.66, 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.74), and moderate within the pedal arteries (kappa 0.54, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.74). The presence of diabetes or stage of disease did not influence interobserver agreement.


CONCLUSIONS
interobserver agreement of DS is good within the popliteal and tibial arteries and moderate within the pedal arteries.
Koelemay
M J
MJ
Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Legemate
D A
DA
van Gurp
J A
JA
de Vos
H
H
Balm
R
R
Jacobs
M J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*