COMPARISON OF COLOUR DOPPLER AND DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY IN OCCLUSIVE ARTERIAL DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH LOWER LIMB ISCHAEMIA INTRODUCTION

Abstract

Colour Doppler was found to be highly sensitive and specific for detecting grade 3 lesions however significant disagreement was seen in the grade 1 and grade 2 lesions. A high negative predictive value was seen for all the arterial segments. Duplex ultrasound, however, can be used as a good tool for screening modality. This modality has a high negative predictive value and has sufficient discriminatory power to diagnose patients requiring definitive management (endovascular or surgical) and those without significant PAOD. Also, this can be used to guide the radiologist to perform limited diagnostic angiographies while or before definitive procedures. Another important advantage with Duplex ultrasound is that there are no complications in this procedure, the examination can be done multiple times, and findings on other modalities corroborated or confirmed retrospectively.