Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 15, Issue 2 99-106, Copyright © 1996 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Interobserver and inter-equipment variability of echo-Doppler sonographic evaluation of the superior mesenteric artery

M. Zoli, C. Merkel, C. Sabba, D. Sacerdoti, S. Gaiani, G. Ferraioli and L. Bolondi
Instituto di Clinica Medica Generale e Terapia Medica, University of Bologna, Italy.

The aim of this study was to assess the interobserver and inter-equipment variabilities of echo-Doppler sonographic measurement of superior mesenteric artery flow parameters. In the first part of the study the echo-Doppler sonographic parameters (maximum systolic velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, mean velocity, restrictive index, and pulsatility index) were measured independently in nine patients by four skilled operators using four different equipment models. In the second part of the study measurements were taken by the four operators in seven different patients, after one day of cooperative training; the purpose of this part was to define a strict and uniform protocol of Doppler sonographic examination. Significantly different values of maximum systolic velocity, minimum diastolic velocity, mean velocity, and pulsatility index were obtained by the different operators, whereas the inter-equipment variability was significant only for maximum systolic velocity, mean velocity, and pulsatility index. The analysis of the components of variance showed that a large part of this variance was nonsystematic. After training and definition of the protocol no significant differences were found among the operators for any of the parameters, and the 95% confidence limits and coefficients of variation showed a decrease as for maximum systolic velocity, mean velocity, and pulsatility index. This study demonstrates that a significant systematic variability exists among mesenteric Doppler measurements obtained by different operators using different commercially available equipment. Cooperative training can reduce the interobserver variability significantly and bring to an acceptable level the reproducibility of Doppler measurements of superior mesenteric artery flow parameters.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Unal, S. Bagcier, I. Simsir, Y. Bilgili, and S. Kara Evaluation of Differences Between Observers and Automatic-Manual Measurements in Calculation of Doppler Parameters J. Ultrasound Med., August 1, 2004; 23(8): 1041 - 1048. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Unal, M. Y. K. Bilgili, S. Yilmaz, O. Caglayan, and S. Kara Smoking Prevents the Expected Postprandial Increase in Intestinal Blood Flow: A Doppler Sonographic Study J. Ultrasound Med., May 1, 2004; 23(5): 647 - 653. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Q. D. Palo, R. Rivolta, V. Berruti, M. Caronni, S. Bazzi, and R. Scorza Superior mesenteric artery blood flow in systemic sclerosis patients Rheumatology, July 1, 2002; 41(7): 730 - 734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. K. Lim, W. J. Lee, S. H. Kim, S. J. Lee, S. H. Choi, H. S. Park, Y. S. Do, S. W. Choo, and I. W. Choo Splanchnic Arterial Stenosis or Occlusion: Diagnosis at Doppler US Radiology, May 1, 1999; 211(2): 405 - 410. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Ranke, A. Creutzig, H. Becker, and H.-J. Trappe Standardization of Carotid Ultrasound : A Hemodynamic Method to Normalize for Interindividual and Interequipment Variability Stroke, February 1, 1999; 30(2): 402 - 406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]