title: Sonographic reproducibility of a novel approach in the assessment of centralised access in end-stage renal disease.
abstract: A reliable and accurate non-invasive test is needed to help determine grafts and/or fistulae in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Sonographic scanning to assess the state of the fistula and AV shunt seems underused. To find out what role B-mode and Doppler play in the assessment of fistula and shunt, we scanned nine patients with a fistula as central access and nine patients with a graft several times over a period of a month. Diameters were measured before and after the AV shunt and Doppler measurements were made pre, inter and post shunt. We established that B-mode measurements are reliable in predicting the future and integrity of both fistulae and grafts. Doppler measurements were less consistent and therefore less reliable. The average initial measurement showed a screen of 5.766 mm and a second measurement of 5.890 mm; The coefficient of variation (CV)/reproducibility was 1.58% for first measurement. The average first and second measurements post graft were 6.317 mm and 6.365 mm, respectively. The CV/reproducibility was 0.48%. First and second peak flow measurements averaged 149 m/s and 112 m/s, respectively, resulting in a CV of 14.0%. We conclude that morphological changes may be more reliable than Doppler values, indicating a potentially greater use for B-mode ultrasound in predicting an open shunt and/or fistula.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Concepts Inc, Los Angeles, California 91436, USA. jbarth@pol.net
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pahl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zonjee
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vazeri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001163:Arteriovenous Anastomosis; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography