Abstract
We compared contact thermography with shuntgraphy on 20 hemodialysis patients (5 with strictures, 5 unclears, and 10 complicated cases) to observe the progression of the shunt. In 17 patients (85%) almost the same results were obtained from the 2 different methods in detecting the blood flow and the stenosis of the vessels. Of the remaining 3 patients in whom the observations by contact thermography were not accurate, 2 had skin irregularities and the other had too thick layer of subcutaneous fat. It was found that to obtain good thermography images, the tests should be done at room temperature or less and the skin should be cooled as much as possible by alcohol wiping. Stagnation made it possible to have the better images in some cases.
As a result, contact thermography is thought to be a very useful screening tool to evaluate the shunt flow because it is simple and easy to use.
