title: Blood flow imaging: a new two-dimensional ultrasound modality for enhanced intraoperative visualization of blood flow patterns in coronary anastomoses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study's objective was to evaluate a novel two-dimensional ultrasound imaging modality termed "blood flow imaging" (BFI) for intraoperative assessment of blood flow patterns in coronary anastomoses. The BFI modality extends color Doppler imaging (CDI) with information on flow direction and velocity that is not limited by angle dependency or aliasing artifacts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intraoperative ultrasound recordings of patent left internal mammary artery-left anterior descending anastomoses were acquired from an experimental porcine model (N = 9). Three independent observers randomly evaluated CDI and BFI cineloops with regard to different assessments of flow direction and velocity. Further, a selection of technical problems that might occur in clinical practice was induced in three pigs to investigate the resulting flow patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BFI modality was found to provide an improved visual assessment of blood flow patterns in the left internal mammary artery-left anterior descending anastomosis compared with CDI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modality may therefore increase the certainty and efficiency of flow evaluation for intraoperative quality control in coronary surgery.
authors: Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors: Lasse
authors: L
authors: Lovstakken
authors: Khalid S
authors: KS
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Vitale
authors: Siren Torsvik
authors: ST
authors: Henriksen
authors: Idar
authors: I
authors: Kirkeby-Garstad
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Torp
authors: Rune
authors: R
authors: Haaverstad
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine