Absence of right common carotid artery in a patient with common origin of the innominate artery and left common carotid artery.

A 50-year-old woman was referred to the noninvasive vascular laboratory for carotid artery evaluation because of a bruit in the neck. Color Doppler ultrasound examination demonstrated absence of the right common carotid artery and parallel internal and external carotid arteries originating at the brachiocephalic trunk. Computed tomography angiography further described anomalous anatomy, demonstrating a common origin of the innominate artery and left common carotid artery.

Clinical Role of the "Venous" Ultrasound to Identify Lower Extremity Pathology.

Background: Accreditation in peripheral venous testing can be obtained based on femoropopliteal (FP) duplex ultrasound evaluation, and many laboratories limit their examination to this segment only. This simplified protocol detects acute FP deep venous thrombosis (DVT) but misses calf vein DVT, superficial venous thrombosis, chronic DVT, venous reflux, and other nonvenous findings potentially responsible for the patients' presenting conditions. A protocol limited to the FP segment results in additional unnecessary testing and can create patient dissatisfaction.

Ultrasound tissue characterization of the normal kidney.

Aim: Ultrasound tissue characterization (USTC) is a precursor of ultrasound virtual histology (USVH), already applied to B-mode images of coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries, as well as venous thrombosis. Elevated echogenicity has been described for a rejected transplanted kidney. We analyzed data from healthy young adults as reference for further renal USTC.

Assessment of deep venous thrombosis by grayscale median analysis of ultrasound images.

Aim: This study aimed to determine whether grayscale median (GSM) ultrasound (US) analysis could differentiate acute from subacute femoropopliteal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) classified based on (a) the time of symptoms onset and (b) sonographers' evaluation of US images.

Methods: Patients who had US because of suspected DVT were included. Patients with history of previous DVT, with normal US results or US with findings of isolated calf thrombosis were excluded.

Comparisons of side effects using air and carbon dioxide foam for endovenous chemical ablation.

Objective: This clinical study evaluated prospectively adverse events immediately following ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) for the treatment of lower extremity venous valvular insufficiency. Incidence of side effects associated with carbon dioxide (CO(2)) foam was compared with a historical control using air-based foam. The literature on the subject was reviewed.

Chronic venous insufficiency due to great saphenous vein incompetence treated with radiofrequency ablation: an effective and safe procedure in the elderly.

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) with the resultant clinical sequelae significantly reduces quality of life. Most elderly patients with CVI are treated nonoperatively owing to concerns of increased operative risk and therefore suffer more advanced disease. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a minimally invasive procedure to treat patients with superficial venous insufficiency (SVI) due to great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence.

Effect of ultrasonography in the assessment of carotid artery stenosis.

Although ultrasonography (US) advantageously portrays lumen and wall thickness, velocity criteria have been used primarily to interpret carotid artery stenosis. The relationship of US and velocity measurements was investigated. Peak-systolic and end-diastolic velocities (PSV, EDV) increase exponentially as the lumen of the internal carotid artery narrows and the percent stenosis (%S) increases.

Patterns of saphenous reflux in women with primary varicose veins.

Objective: Varicose veins have been linked to great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux and in particular, with reflux at the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ). Early stages of disease, however, may be associated with limited, localized reflux in segments of the GSV and/or small saphenous vein (SSV). Ultrasound mapping of saphenous veins was performed to determine patterns of GSV and SSV reflux in women with simple, primary varicose veins.

Ultrasound findings after radiofrequency ablation of the great saphenous vein: descriptive analysis.

Objective: As an emerging endovascular alternative to ligation and stripping of the incompetent greater saphenous vein (GSV), radiofrequency ablation was monitored with ultrasound scanning to evaluate anatomic results. Neovascularization and inflammation are potential consequences that lead to the appearance of small vessels. The natural history of the below-knee untreated GSV segment may be important in our understanding of ongoing chronic venous disease.

Segmental waveform analysis in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial occlusive diseases.

The duplex exam is widely used in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. It presents some drawbacks, however, such as calcified plaques, sequential stenosis, and time-consuming examinations. A type of waveform analysis, referred to in this study as segmental analysis, was conducted to try to find solutions to these problems.

Gender differences in blood velocities across carotid stenoses.

Objectives: Carotid duplex scanning is the standard test for documenting carotid disease. Carotid endarterectomy effectively reduces stroke in selected patients with carotid artery disease. Data from large national randomized trials suggest that the benefits of CEA may be gender dependent.

Lower extremity deep venous thrombosis: vascular laboratory quality assurance without correlation between ultrasound and venography.

Venography is rarely available for comparison with ultrasonography (US) as a means for quality assurance (QA) in the detection of lower extremity venous thrombosis. New QA methods must be implemented. We compared results of multiple serial studies performed in the same extremity as a QA indicator.

Fate of great saphenous vein after radio-frequency ablation: detailed ultrasound imaging.

Radio-frequency ablation (RFA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) is an endovascular alternative to stripping. To determine long-term effectiveness, the fate of GSV treated for valvular insufficiency with RFA was evaluated in detail with ultrasound imaging (US). One hundred lower extremities were examined with high-resolution color flow US, an average of 8 months after RFA treatment of an incompetent GSV.

Planning endovascular vein valve implantation: significance of vein size variability.

Objective: Endovascular placement of prosthetic valves is currently in clinical trials as treatment for lower extremity venous hypertension caused by valvular insufficiency. Femoropopliteal vein sizing is a critical factor in treatment planning. A wide diameter range could influence selection of an endoprosthesis.

Factors related to short length of stay after carotid endarterectomy.

In the past decade, expected in-hospital length of stay (LOS) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has decreased from 4 days to 1. Long LOS is associated with known complications and factors affecting severity of the patient's condition. Factors affecting an intermediate stay of 2 to 4 days need further clarification.