Precise evaluation of blood flow patterns in human carotid bifurcation based on high‐frame‐rate vector flow imaging

• Published in: Journal of clinical ultrasound 2023-07, Vol.51 (6), p.1070-1077
• Main Authors: Hong, Shaofu, Dong, Yinghui, Song, Di, Liu, Mengmeng, Gao, Wenjing, Li, Weiyue, Wan, Yong, Du, Yigang, Xu, Jinfeng, Dong, Fajin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Bifurcations; Blood flow; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid artery; carotid bifurcation; complex flow; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Doppler effect; Evaluation; Flow characteristics; Flow distribution; Fluid flow; Hemodynamics; high frame rate; Humans; Laminar flow; Medical imaging; Nonlaminar flow; Reversed flow; Rotational flow; Turbulence; Turbulence measurement; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography - methods; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color - methods; vector flow imaging; Vortices
• ISSN: 0091-2751; 1097-0096
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23489

Purpose To investigate the feasibility of high‐frame‐rate vector flow imaging (HiFR‐VFI) compared to ultrasound color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) for precisely evaluating flow characteristics in the carotid bifurcation (CB) of presumed healthy adults. Methods Forty‐three volunteers were assessed for flow characteristics and their extensions using HiFR‐VFI and CDFI in CBs. The flow patterns were classified according to the streamlines in HiFR‐VFI and quantitatively measured using an innovative turbulence index (Tur‐value). Interobserver agreement was also assessed. Results HiFR‐VFI was consistent with CDFI in detecting laminar and nonlaminar flow in 81.4% of the cases; however, in 18.6% of the cases, only HiFR‐VFI identified the nonlaminar flow. HiFR‐VFI showed a larger extension of complex flow (0.37 ± 0.26 cm2) compared to CDFI (0.22 ± 0.21 cm2; p