Pattern of Doppler Ultrasonographic Scan Requests and Findings: A 3-Year Study

Introduction: Doppler ultrasonography is a radiological investigative tool which is relatively new in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive.Objective: To describe the clinical indications, the pattern of requests and findings of Doppler ultrasonographic studies in a tertiary health facility in Sagamu, Nigeria. This is a preliminary report of a spanning June 2007 to July 2010 and highlighting the Methods: This initial report covered the period between June 2007 and July 2010. The subjects consisted of patients who were referred for Doppler Ultrasonography from public and private health facilities in Sagamu. The ultrasound scan was carried out using a Siemens's Sonoline G-40® Ultrasound Machine. The features recorded included the waveforms, peak velocities, pathologic features such as plaques, irregular pools of blood and the relative absence of flow as well as the lack of Doppler signals.Results: There were 42 patients comprising 29 (69%) males and 13 (31%) females, aged 16-78 years, with a mean age of 53 ± 15.5 years. The subjects were matched for age (p = 0.9). The clinical indications for Doppler ultrasound studies included Diabetes Foot Syndrome (DFS), Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), peripheral arterial disease, and leg swellings. Minor indications included oedema, gunshot wound, nephritic syndrome, supraclavicular tumour and varicose veins. The Doppler ultrasound findings were confirmatory of the clinical diagnosis of DVT in 5/8 (62.5%) and 5/23 (21.7%) in DFS patients.Conclusion: Doppler ultrasound confirmed a higher proportion of DVT compared to DFS

Peripheral Vascular Injuries and their Management in Accra

Background: The true incidence of vascular injuries in Ghana is not known on account of low reporting. Objective: We performed a study aimed at reviewing the pattern of injuries to peripheral vessels; and also the pattern of referral; presentation and management of these injuries at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; Accra. Method: The study covered the period of January 1989 to March 2005 and involved a review of all peripheral vessel injuries referred for vascular surgical opinion. Results: Fifty two (52) patients with aged between 13- 50 years were reviewed. Penetrating trauma (82.7) and blunt trauma (11.5) were the commonest modes of injury. Arterial injuries (63.5) and combined arterial and venous injuries (23.1) were the commonest forms of injury. Brachial artery injuries were the commonest injuries seen. Associated nerve injuries occurred in 25 of patients most of whom also had brachial artery injuries. Late presentations of false aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulae were seen in 40.4patients. There were delays in referring patients (range 1 hour to 4 years). Vascular investigations like angiograms and duplex scanning were obtained in only 25.0 of patients. Vascular reconstruction was successful in 84.6patients and 7.7of patients required major limb amputation and an equal number of patients died from other injuries. Conclusion: There is undue delay in referring patientswith vascular injuries for intervention due to the inability of the initial attending medical personnel to recognize these injuries. Most of these injuries can be adequately treated without the use of sophisticated investigations; which are usually expensive