title: Directional Doppler and angiography in the assessment of the postoperative function of the microvascular anastomoses: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate the achieved patency rates and to compare directional Doppler with angiography in the assessment of the vascular patency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two different methods were used in evaluation of the vascular function of reconstructed fingers and hands. Directional Doppler mapping of anastomosed arteries was compared with conventional angiographical study in the same individuals in the examination of 110 arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed equal findings in majority of examined vessels (93%) using both methods. There was erroneous interpretation in Doppler study of 4 arteries and in 3 angiographies the interpretation differed from Doppler study mainly due to projection difficulty. There were also 4 digital arteries which were considered open in Doppler study but angiography showed arterial recanalization or neovascularization phenomenon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patency rates at digital artery level (70%) were lower than at metacarpal and forearm level (81%) The results were in concordance with previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Microsurgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Vilkki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metsa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seppänen
keywords: Doppler ultrasound; Hand angiography; Microanastomosis; Patency rates; Replantation