Videodensitometric quantitation of mean blood flow.

Standard angiography demonstrates the anatomy of arterial occlusive disease but does not define its physiological significance. However, measurement of flow in a compromised vessel at rest and following peripheral dilatation provides important physiological information. Using digital subtraction angiography, femoral arterial flows determined by the cross-correlation transit time technique were compared to measurements by electromagnetic flowmeter. Thirty-five femoral arterial flow measurements were obtained in nine dogs instrumented with an electromagnetic flow probe and balloon occluder. Renografin 76 (7 cc) was power-injected at 14 cc/sec into the distal abdominal aorta. Angiographic flow measurements correlated well with electromagnetic flowmeter measurements (r = 0.94, standard deviation of the difference (SDD) = 15 ml/min). Intravenous studies provided somewhat poorer correlation due to difficulties in defining dimensions (r = 0.72, SDD = 36). Paired contrast injections (2 injections in succession) in 11 studies increased flow from an average of 80 to 250 ml/min (a 210 +/- 100% increase), providing an estimate of a vessel's capacity to provide increased flow during peripheral dilatation. Thus, reliable angiographic flow determinations may be obtained by arterial and intravenous contrast injections, adding physiological information to anatomical definition.

Duke Scholars

Author James T. Dobbins III Radiology