[Duplex sonography of abdominal vessels]. / Duplexsonographie abdomineller Gefässe.

ABSTRACT

Duplex sonography is a non-invasive procedure which permits the determination of flow velocity and direction in visceral vessels. Results in 50 normals have shown that small arteries can be evaluated in about 50% of cases. The portal venous system can be demonstrated in all cases; average flow velocity and volume is 15.2 +/- 2.8 cm/s and 694 +/- 230 ml/min, corresponding with the values obtained by invasive methods. Clinical application for duplex examinations can be found in portal hypertension, varices, thromboses, aneurysms and transplant kidneys.