Standardization of penile hemodynamic evaluation through color duplex-doppler ultrasound

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: The vascular evaluation of the erectile function through Color Duplex-Doppler Ultrasound (CDDU) of the penis can benefit the therapeutic decision-making process. Unfortunately, there is no standard procedure for CDDU conduction, a fact that results in high result-interpretation variability. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this review are to promote greater standardization during CDDU of the penis and discuss the fundamental principles for its accurate conduction. METHODS: CDDU is initially conducted with the penis in the flaccid state; the whole penis must be assessed (images at B mode) with a high-frequency linear transducer (7.5-18 MHz). Intracavernous injection of vasodilating agents (prostaglandin E1, papaverine, phentolamine) is performed to induce a rigid erection. Serial measurements at different times should be taken during the CDDU session and penile rigidity must be assessed in each evaluation. RESULTS: It is important to monitor the erection response after the vasoactive agent (hardness scale), and scanning during the best-quality erection should be contemplated. Manual self-stimulation, audiovisual sexual stimulation (AVSS), and vasoactive agent re-dosing protocols must be taken into account to reduce the influence of psychogenic factors and to help the patient to get the hardest erection possible. Such measurements contribute to the maximal relaxation of the erectile tissue, so the hemodynamic parameters are not underestimated. CONCLUSIONS: CDDU is a relevant specialized tool to assess patients with erectile dysfunction; therefore, this guideline will help to standardize and establish uniformity in its conduction and interpretation, taking into consideration the complexity and heterogeneity of CDDU evaluations of the penis.

How to carry out monthly blood flow surveillance of fistula in large-scale hemodialysis units: A cross-sectional study

Background: The important effect of regular blood flow surveillance on arteriovenous fistula maintenance is emphasized. The ultrasonic dilution technique for blood flow surveillance can be performed during hemodialysis, but there are some limitations. Blood flow is traditionally measured by duplex Doppler ultrasound during the nondialysis period. However, the surveillance workload for arteriovenous fistula has increased with the rapid increase in the hemodialysis population size. Efficient methods for blood flow surveillance during hemodialysis are needed. Methods: Eighty-four hemodialysis patients with a forearm radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Each received blood flow measurements using ultrasonic dilution technique and duplex Doppler ultrasound during hemodialysis. Duplex Doppler ultrasound measurements included the blood flow of the brachial artery and radial artery. The correlations between these variables were analyzed. Results: The correlation coefficients ( r) between flow measured by ultrasonic dilution technique and brachial artery flow measured by duplex Doppler ultrasound, between flow measured by ultrasonic dilution technique and radial artery flow measured by duplex Doppler ultrasound, and between brachial artery flow and radial artery flow measured by duplex Doppler ultrasound were 0.724, 0.784, and 0.749, respectively (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Blood flow measured by ultrasonic dilution technique was positively correlated with blood flow measured by duplex Doppler ultrasound during hemodialysis, suggesting that duplex Doppler ultrasound can be used to monitor the trends in the blood flow of the brachial artery and radial artery for timely intervention to improve patency during hemodialysis.

Time-effect of penile color duplex Doppler ultrasound for diagnosing vascular erectile dysfunction

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the time-effect of color duplex Doppler ultrasound (CDDU) in the diagnosis of vascular erectile dysfunction (ED).Material and methods: Using a self-control study, we included patients who underwent penile CDDU and cavernosography in our hospital. We compared the arterial peak systolic velocity (PSV) of CDDU among different intervals for the diagnosis of arterial ED. We included 357 patients who were under consideration for vascular ED.Results: We found significant differences in all the pairwise comparison of PSV in the 1st (0–5 min), 2nd (6–10 min), 3rd (11–15 min), and 4th (16–20 min) 4 intervals after the injection of prostaglandin E1 (p<0.001), except the 11–15 min vs. the 16–20 min interval (p=0.387). Using cavernosography, 294 patients were diagnosed with venous ED. Compared with other intervals, the diagnosis of CDDU 11–15 min after the intracavernous injection of 20 ug prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) had the best consistency with cavernosography (Kappa=0.761; p<0.001). Compared with other intervals, CDDU at 11–15 min had the highest specificity (93.65%), the highest Youden index (0.85), positive likelihood ratio of 14.46, positive predictive value of 98.54%, negative predictive value of 71.08% and a coincidence rate of 92.16%.Conclusions: Our findings support the increased utilization of CDDU for the diagnosis of both arterial and venous ED. The diagnosis at 11–15 min after intracavernous injection of PGE1 is accurate and stable, which would help to simplify the process and shorten the time of CDDU.

Smart Flow for the evaluation of the hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula

Background: Smart Flow is an innovative tool available on the Carestream Touch Prime Ultrasound machines, which provides automated blood flow measurement and shows the vectors that form the blood flow in the vessel. We compared the use of Smart Flow with traditional Duplex Doppler Ultrasound to evaluate blood flow of arteriovenous fistulas in prevalent hemodialysis patients. Methods: A total of 31 chronic patients on hemodialysis were enrolled. Blood flow was measured on the brachial artery with Smart Flow and duplex Doppler ultrasound. In a subset of 26 patients, a video of the juxta-anastomotic efferent vein was recorded and analyzed to calculate an index of flow turbulence. Results: We enrolled 21 males and 10 females aged 68.52 ± 11.64 years at the time of evaluation with an average arteriovenous fistulas vintage of 50.23 ± 47.42 months and followed them up for 18.03 ± 5.18 months. Smart Flow and Duplex Doppler Ultrasound blood flow measurements positively correlated (p < 0.0001) in the same patient but Smart Flow gave higher blood flow values (995.0 vs 730.3 mL/min, p < 0.0001), and the Duplex Doppler Ultrasound blood flow standard deviation was similar to Smart Flow (125.4 vs 114.4 mL/min, p < 0.0001). The time needed to evaluate arteriovenous fistulas with Smart Flow was significantly shorter than Duplex Doppler Ultrasound (67.58 ± 19.89 vs 146.3 ± 26.35 s, p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between blood flow turbulence and the subsequent access failure. Conclusion: Smart Flow is reliable, reproducible, and faster than traditional duplex ultrasound. However, the additional information given by the Smart Flow technique does not seem to add any further benefits in terms of prediction of the access failure.

SOME OF THE ULTRASOUND FEATURES OF THE SECOND SEGMENT OF THE VERTEBRAL ARTERIES AND THEIR HEMODYAMICS PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY PERSONS AND IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT STAGES OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

In order to improve the capabilities of duplex Doppler ultrasound of morphofunctional features of vertebral arteries we investigated duplex Doppler ultrasound of major neck vessels in 279 patients with stages 1–2 arterial hypertension (149 patients with stage 1 hypertension and 130 patients with stage 2 hypertension). The control group included 196 subjects with normal blood pressure values. Duplex Doppler ultrasound included the following hemodynamic parameters of vertebral arteries: peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, time-averaged mean velocity, pulsatility index, resistance index, and also the asymmetry of vertebral arteries diameters — the ratio of the diameter of the left vertebral artery to the diameter of the right vertebral artery; volumetric blood flow. The reactivity of the vertebral arteries was studied by assessing the response of hemodynamic parameters to head rotation. The severity of muscle sleeve fibrosis surrounding the vertebral arteries in the C5–C6 segments of the cervical spine was evaluated at 7 degrees (from 0 to 6). The study found differences in the morphology of the vertebral arteries as well as the ultrasound parameters of the muscle sleeve surrounding the vertebral arteries in the C5–C6 segments but the greatest differences were observed precisely in the indicator of the reactivity of the vertebral arteries on head rotation. Reactivity indicators were expressed as changes in the parameters of pulsatility index and resistance index. The results of the study showed that early changes in the muscle sleeve surrounding the vertebral arteries in the C5–C6 segments lead to changes in the diameters of the vertebral arteries and their reactivity during further traumatization of vessels and sympathetic fibers caused by rotation of the head. Reactive indicators express to a far greater degree on the left vertebral artery and their progression increase with the progression of hypertension occurred.