[Pulse rate of the venous wave in the eco-Doppler study of the lower extremities as a sign of elevated pressure in the right atrium]. / Pulsatilidad de la onda venosa en el estudio eco-doppler de extremidades inferiores como signo de elevación de la presión en la aurícula derecha.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the nature of venous flow in the lower extremities, as well as to correlate the velocity of the flow with average vein pressure in the right atrium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Over a period of one year 236 pulsated Doppler echographs were made of patients, bearers of a venous catheter located in the right atrium. The patients were in a supine lying position and breathing gently. The lines of the Doppler wave were used to analyse the frequency of the wave, the components of its velocity, the relationships of velocity and the existence of pulsatile flow. These parameters were compared with the pressure in the right atrium. RESULTS: The study showed a cardiac and respiratory periodicity of the venous wave. A statistically significant correlation (p<0.0001) was found between average venous pressure in the right atrium and the following variables: the systolic atrium wave (a), the diastolic atrium wave (d), the relation of pulsatility (RP=Velocity min/Velocity max) and the index of pulsatility (IP=[Velocity max-Velocity min]/Velocity average). CONCLUSION: There is an inverse and significant relationship between pulsatile flow and atrium pressure. Nonetheless, although a relation exists between the different components of the venous wave, an elevation in central vein pressure cannot be predicted.

Cysts of the tunica albuginea: sonographic appearance.

OBJECTIVE: Testicular cysts of the tunica albuginea are an uncommon phenomenon, important because of their possible confusion with testicular tumors. Accurate diagnosis may avoid aggressive and irreversible treatment such as testicular ablation. The purpose of this study is to report our experience in such diagnosis through sonographic detection of albuginea cysts. CONCLUSION: Sonography is the technique of choice in the diagnosis of any testicular tumor formation, allowing the differentiation of cysts from neoplasia and avoiding unnecessary intervention in patients with cysts of the tunica albuginea.

Correlation of central venous pressure with Doppler waveform of the common femoral veins.

The objects of this prospective study were to determine the nature of the flow in the right femoral vein and to correlate the flow velocity with the venous pressure measured in the right atrium. We performed 236 pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic examinations in 1 year on patients with a venous catheter with the distal tip in the right atrium. In the Doppler wave readouts we analyzed wave frequency, velocity components, and relationships among them and the existence of pulsatile flow. These parameters were then compared to the right atrium pressure. We investigated the correlation between the atrium pressure and the flow velocity obtained from the Doppler waveforms of the common femoral veins, obtaining a significant correlation (P<0.0001) with the following: the atrium systolic wave a, the atrium diastolic wave v, the pulsatility ratio (PR = Vmin/Vmax) and the pulsatility index (PI = [Vmax - Vmin] /Vavg). The receiver operating characteristic showed that the pulsed Doppler ultrasonography is not a sensitive technique in diagnosis high atrium pressures. In addition, both cardiac and respiratory phasicity of the venous wave was observed. A significant inverse relation was found between the pulsatile flow and high atrium pressure. Nonetheless, the low sensitivity of this technique does not allow the use of pulsatile Doppler ultrasonography in the common femoral vein for diagnosing increases of the atrium pressure.