A validation study on the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of renal artery duplex ultrasound

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 225 - 231
• Main Authors: Baumgartner, I, Behrendt, P, Rohner, P, Baumgartner, R.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.02.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aorta, Abdominal - diagnostic imaging; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood vessels; Cardiovascular system; Catheters; Doppler effect; Doppler velocimetry; Duplex ultrasound; Female; Hemodynamics; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Observer Variation; Renal Artery - diagnostic imaging; Renal Artery Obstruction - diagnostic imaging; Renal artery stenosis; Reproducibility of Results; Time Factors; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Velocity measurement; Duplex ultrasound; Renal artery stenosis; Doppler velocimetry; Sonography; Human; Validation; Renal artery; Speed measurement; Duplex ultrasonography; Intraindividual comparison; Reproducibility; Interindividual comparison; Observer; Medical imagery; Circulatory system; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-5629(98)00142-2

Aim of the present study was to evaluate intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility of direct renal artery Doppler velocimetry. Healthy volunteers were evaluated by one examiner on three separate occasions and by three different examiners in a single day. Peak systolic velocities of the aorta (PSV.Ao) and proximal renal arteries (PSV.RA) were taken at an optimal angle below 60°. The renal-to-aortic ratio (RAR) was calculated dividing PSV.RA by PSV.Ao. Mean values ± 2 SD were 85 ± 34 (49–150) cm/s for the PSV.RA, 38 ± 20 (0–60°) for the Doppler angle of insonation, 102 ± 37 (63–153) cm/s for the PSV.Ao, and 0.85 ± 0.41 (0.49–1.58) for the RAR. Correlation coefficients and coefficient of variation were 0.64–0.82/7.8%–10.1% (PSV.RA), 0.75–0.82/9.9%–13.8% (RAR) for intraobserver evaluations; and 0.79–0.80/7.7%–12.5% (PSV-RA), 0.65–0.78/9.5%–12.3% (RAR) for interobserver evaluations. Reliable results of direct renal artery Doppler velocimetry confirm clinical applicability and suitability for repeated measurements after catheter-based interventions or surveillance of low-grade stenoses.