Promoting an increased awareness and standardized approaches in diagnosing and treating peripheral artery disease

PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE (PAD)

Arterial Duplex Ultrasonography

Arterial duplex ultrasonography is noninvasive and readily available in the vascular laboratory as a useful adjunct to non-invasive physiologic testing. However, it is time-consuming and operator dependent, and thus should not be used as the primary diagnostic tool for the detection of PAD. Instead, it is typically obtained for more focused evaluation of the lower extremity arterial system such as localization of stenosis, assessment of stent or bypass graft patency, and detection of pseudoaneurysms or arteriovenous fistulas. Arterial duplex allows for direct plaque visualization with assessment of hemodynamics to establish stenosis severity. Spectral Doppler interrogation reveals elevated flow velocities at the site of (or just distal to) the stenosis, with a doubling of velocities compared to a more normal proximal segment suggestive of a hemodynamically significant lesion (FIGURE 3A). Spectral Doppler waveforms distal to the stenosis are monophasic and display a tardus et parvus pattern with delayed upstroke and low velocity (FIGURE 3B).

 

FIGURE 3A: Arterial duplex image and spectral Doppler waveform of the mid superficial femoral artery indicating hemodynamically significant stenosis. The peak systolic velocity is markedly elevated at 435 cm/s. The velocity ratio (peak systolic velocity divided by the systolic velocity in the normal proximal segment) is elevated at 6.2. A velocity ratio > 2 is consistent with greater than 50% stenosis. A velocity ratio > 4 suggests greater than 80% stenosis.

FIGURE 3B: Arterial duplex image and spectral Doppler waveform of the distal superficial femoral artery, distal to the stenosis. This spectral Doppler waveform is monophasic and exhibits a tardus et parvus pattern with low velocity and delayed upstroke. This waveform in a peripheral artery is post-stenotic, suggesting a significant stenosis more proximally.

Duplex diagnostic criteria for PAD can vary between laboratories. Degree of stenosis estimation is based on peak systolic velocity measurements and velocity ratios as illustrated in the table [21]:

Arterial duplex is useful for surveillance of peripheral stents and bypass grafts although velocity criteria for in-stent restenosis or stenosis within a bypass graft differ from those used in native arteries. An example of in-stent restenosis is shown in FIGURE 4A, 4B, and 4C. Limitations of arterial duplex include operator dependence and difficulty in assessing tandem lesions or the additive effect of non-hemodynamically significant lesions. The iliac arteries are also often difficult to visualize due to underlying bowel gas.

FIGURE 4A: Arterial duplex image and spectral DopplerDoppler waveform within the stent in the proximal superficial femoral artery demonstrating low velocity but preserved upstroke. This waveform suggests significant distal stenosis.

FIGURE 4B: Arterial duplex image and spectral Doppler waveform within the stent at the site of in-stent restenosis. Markedly elevated flow velocities up to 360 cm/s and a velocity ratio of 7.3 indicate significant in-stent restenosis.

FIGURE 4C: Arterial duplex image and spectral Doppler waveform within the stent in the mid superficial femoral artery. This post-stenotic spectral Doppler waveform is monophasic and demonstrates tardus et parvus pattern.

References

21. Hodgkiss-Harlow KD and Bandyk DF. Interpretation of arterial duplex testing of lower-extremity arteries and interventions. Semin Vasc Surg. 2013;26(2-3):95-104.