Shunt flow of arteriovenous fistulas from plantar artery

• Published in: Phlebology Vol. 26; no. 1; p. 32
• Main Authors: Yoshida, Y, Fujita, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-02-2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arteriovenous Fistula - diagnostic imaging; Arteriovenous Fistula - physiopathology; Arteriovenous Fistula - therapy; Female; Foot - blood supply; Foot - diagnostic imaging; Foot Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Foot Diseases - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
• ISSN: 1758-1125
• DOI: 10.1258/phleb.2009.009067

The purpose of this study was to visualize the shunt flow of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) passing towards the top side of the foot from the plantar artery.
Colour-flow duplex Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 112 patients who consulted an outpatient clinic with varicose veins and/or symptoms such as foot oedema, dullness, cramp and coldness. Thirteen age-and sex-matched healthy subjects served as controls.
AVFs were detected in 86 of 112 patients (77%). They were also detected in 10 (77%) of 13 healthy subjects. The shunt flow pattern consisted of two phases of flow corresponding to systole and diastole, and the diastolic fraction of time-velocity integral was larger, although the peak flow velocity in systole was higher than that in diastole.
Colour-flow duplex Doppler ultrasonography is useful for non-invasive visualization of the shunt flow of AVFs connecting the plantar artery with the venous arch of the top side of the foot.