DiPaolo B, Balestra E, Ricciatti A, Mioli V
Distinctive effects between obstructive and non-obstructive pyelocaliectasis by duplex-Doppler ultrasonography
Am Soc Nephrol
J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract) (Nov) 6:461 1995

This is an evaluation of duplex Doppler ultrasonography to detect functional urinary tract obstruction. When there is obstruction there is a rise in renal artery vascular resistance which results in a more marked reduction in diastolic flow than in systolic flow. Using duplex Doppler ultrasonography a resistance index (RI) can be computed as the peak systolic frequency shift minus the minimum diastolic frequency divided by the peak systolic frequency. The new method was evaluated in 17 kidneys which were found to be obstructed by other tests, in 15 kidneys with non- obstructive dilatation, and in 27 kidneys without pyelocaliectasis. The mean RI in the obstructive kidneys was 0.77, and in the non-obstructive dilated kidneys was 0.66. If one used a level of 0.70 to discriminate, the sensitivity for obstruction was 92% with a specificity of 88%. All non-dilated normal kidneys had RI values greater than 0.70.

Comment: Comment: Duplex Doppler ultrasonography appears to be a promising new technique to detect renal obstruction. (Daugirdas)

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Am Soc Nephrol
ARF etiology : Urinary tract obstruction