Lower-Extremity Arterial Continuous-Wave Doppler Evaluation

Abstract

Analysis of continuous-wave Doppler waveforms acquired from peripheral arteries has been a cornerstone of vascular laboratory testing for decades. However, appropriate terminology for describing waveform morphology still remains controversial. Many clinicians classify waveforms on the basis of phasicity because it relates to waveform components that cross the zero baseline in the classic display. Others describe waveforms on the basis primarily of peripheral resistance and its effect on phasic directional changes on flow or on acceleration and deceleration of waveform parameters. Improved diagnostic efficacy may be achieved by combining all of the pertinent components of peripheral arterial waveforms when performing lower-extremity physiologic assessment. This article focuses on the classical use of qualitative peripheral arterial Doppler waveform descriptors with the use of continuous-wave Doppler.