title: Portable duplex ultrasonography: A diagnostic and decision-making tool in reconstructive microsurgery.
abstract: Unidirectional Doppler is a common diagnostic tool by the Reconstructive Microsurgeons; however, it may generate false signals and surely provides less imaging data as compared to duplex ultrasonography. We have reviewed the use of Portable Duplex Ultrasonography (PDU) in 16 patients who underwent complex soft-tissue/bone reconstruction, aiming to determine its role in the design and management of free tissue transfer. According to our data, there were modifications either of the surgical plan and/or of patient's management, based on PDU findings, in 10 out of 16 patients (62.5%). The use of ultrasound directed to subtle modifications in three patients (19%), but to significant changes of the surgical plan in four patients (25%). Also, the use of ultrasound improved significantly the postoperative management in three patients (19%). Thus, significant impact of PDU in patient's treatment was recorded in 44% of cases. Portable ultrasound represents generally available method for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative diagnosis and decision-making in free tissue transfer, hence could replace in the near future the unidirectional Doppler in the hands of Microsurgeons.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, General State Hospital of Athens G. Gennimatas, Athens, Greece. gravvani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravvanis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karakitsos
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dimitriou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zogogiannis
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsikeris
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karabinis
authors.forename: Dimosthenis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsoutsos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D055815:Young Adult