[Doppler ultrasound assessment of blood flow parameters in hemodialysis fistulas].

Unlabelled: The number of patients requiring kidney replacement therapy is systematically increasing world wide. At the end of 2000 there were 8424 treated with dialysis in Poland. Ultrasound examinations allow assessment of dialysis fistula morphology and function.
Objective: Assessment of blood flow parameters in hemodialysis fistulas. Assessment of correlation between the analysed parameters. Optimization of number of parameters needed to characterise blood flow in dialysis fistulas.
Material and Methods: Doppler ultrasound examinations were performed in 86 patients with hemodialysis fistulas. Various blood flow parameters were analysed.
Results: In analysed group a following values of analysed parameters were recorded: brachial artery cross sectional area was within the range 0.28-0.78 cm2; radial artery 0.05 - 0.39 cm2. The resistance and pulsatility index (RI and PI) of brachial artery were 0.32-1.00 and 0.39-3.56 respectively. Mean blood flow through brachial artery was 1082.3 ml/min and 946 ml/min through dialysis fistulas.
Conclusions: Almost full correlation was found between volume of blood flowing through dialysis fistula and brachial artery, brachial and radial arteries and between PI and RI. The volume of blood flowing through brachial artery depends mostly on brachial artery cross section area and mean blood flow velocity. In patients with dialysis fistulas located on the arm or forearm blood flow measurements may be performed within the brachial artery.