ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective is to analyse the changes of haemodynamic and Doppler ultrasonography spectrum in the proximal arterial occlusion of lower extremities, and to explore the value of spectrum Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.

Methods: Thirty-four patients (thirty-nine occlusion arteries) were examined with two-dimensional ultrasound combined with colour Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), and the results were compared.

Result: The waveform shape in the artery proximal to the occlusion shows that blood flow velocity becomes slower, and diastolic reverse wave slowly disappears even upward. Systolic waveform records a steep upstroke, a slow downstroke and a shoulder on the downstroke. The appearance of the shoulder on the downstroke is earlier than the diastolic upward wave. The differences of peak systolic velocity, acceleration time, deceleration time, systolic acceleration, deceleration, diastolic reverse flow velocity, systolic acceleration time/systolic duration and systolic deceleration time/systolic duration in the proximal occlusion segment compared with the control group are statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Artery occlusion can lead to haemodynamic response and spectrum waveform change. Timely discovery of the changes of the spectrum can be of clinical significance in the diagnosis of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease.