Abstract:

Objective To determine the degree of volume reduction of major  arteries of lower extremities
 with the three-dimensional ultrasound volume method and to compare the measuring results of clinical stage,ankle-brachial index (ABI) and  transcu
taneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) of arterial ischemic disease,and to explore its clinical value.
Methods 60 patients（March 2011-February 2012,with ultrasound examination in our hospital,unilateral limb,total of 60 arteries,without ipsilateral iliac artery ste
nosis or occlusion） with arterial sclerosis obstruction (ASO) were selected and the vascular volumes of the selected arteries segments were measured with GI3DQ technique,then the reduction degree of overall volume of narrow lower extremity
arteries was calculated.According the results of the calculation, the  patients were divided into the mild (the reduction of volume 30%-49%),the moderate
(the reduction of volume 50%-70%) and severe(the reduction of volume >70%) groups　(n=20)　and the volume reduction of major arteries of lower extremities   was measured with the three-dimensional ultrasound volume method,and the statistical correlation analysis was performed with clinical stage,ABI and TcPO2.
Results The patients showed reduced lower extremity arterial volume in varying degrees,the reduction  extent and ASO clinical stage showed a moderate correlati
on(r=0.500，P<0.01). The ABI of the patients in mild group was 0.72-0.90,in moderate group 0.44-0.69,in severe group <0.40.The TcPO2 in mild group was 42-50 mmHg,in moderate group 24-41 mmHg,in severe group <22 mmHg. The results showed that the correlation
 
coefficient (R2) of  three-dimensional ultrasound volume and ABI,as well as the R2
 
of  three-dimensional ultrasound volume and TcPO2 were 0.9987 and 0.9957,and
 there was linear correlation between the two sets of comparative data.Conclusion
The three-dimensional ultrasound  measurement of lower extremity arterial volume to assess the degree of arterial ischemia can be used as a new,com
prehensive non-invasive imaging method in the evaluation of lower limb ischemia.

Key words: arterial volume;three-dimensional ultrasound volume , method;clinical stage;ankle-brachial index;transcutaneous oxygen pressure