Abstract
To assess the accuracy of estimated blood flow volume at the location of the arteriovenous fistula (eAVF-FV), we compared estimated brachial arterial blood flow volume (eBA-FV) measured by the flow profile ultrasound method (FP) and pulsed Doppler ultrasound method (PD) with estimated AVF blood flow volume (eAVF-FV) measured by an ultrasound velocity dilution technique. We evaluated 17 hemodialysis patients with native forearm AVF. eBA-FV was measured at the mid-forearm (MF) with a duplex scan probe using ProSoundα7 (A7) (Hitachi Aloka Medical Co., Ltd.) and LOGIQ Book XP (LB) (GE Healthcare), and eAVF-FV was measured using an HD-02 monitor (Transonic Systems) during a continuous hemodialysis session. eAVF-FV values were 155～1,045 mL/min (566±322 mL/min) and relative errors (RRs=[|eBA-FV-eAVF-FV|]/AVF-FV×100) of eBA-FV were 39±42% (A7-FP), 47±45% (A7-PD), and 83±59% (LB-PD). eBA-FV using LB-PD at the MF was significantly overestimated (p=0.025). FP and PD were clinically useful in eAVF-FV evaluation when the errors of eBA-FV were considered.
