Contrast enhanced duplex ultrasound imaging of the mesenteric arteries.
Duplex ultrasound of the visceral arteries is a technically challenging procedure. We examined the clinical usefulness of perflutren intravenous ultrasound contrast to improve the diagnostic accuracy of such studies. Seventeen patients were prospectively studied. A color duplex imaging study of the visceral vasculature was performed with and without the contrast agent. Vessels were imaged and peak systolic velocity and Doppler waveforms of the aorta, celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and the inferior mesenteric artery were examined. These results were independently compared to those of contrast angiography. From this analysis we concluded contrast-enhanced duplex imaging of the mesenteric arteries is safe but not routinely required when performed by an experienced sonographer. Ultrasound contrast may be helpful in difficult patients when the vessels are not initially successfully visualized.
Blebea
John
J
Division of Vascular Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey 17033-0850, USA. jblebea@psu.edu
Volteas
Nikolaos
N
Neumyer
Marsha
M
Ingraham
John
J
Dawson
Katherine
K
Assadnia
Shahin
S
Anderson
Karla M
KM
Atnip
Robert G
RG
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
D003287:Contrast Media; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C042852:perflutren