Doppler ultrasonic examination in assessing the outcome of the therapeutic method in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities

: The study included 62 patients with atherosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities, of whom 47 in stage II, 5 in stage III and 10 in stage IV of the disease. In 22 patients were present single arterial obliteration, in 30 patients multiple, layered arterial obliterations, in 8 distal arterial obliterations and 2 a diffuse atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. Patients were examined in admission to the clinic, after the treatment performed at the clinic and at various intervals, during 2-4 years. The segmental arterial pressure, the pressure index and the ultrasonogram recorded with the Cardior electrocardiograph were followed-up. The arterial pressure and the pressure indices returned to normal values only after invasive procedures. The medical treatment can bring about the clinical regression and stabilization of the disease, as well as the improvement of the ultrasonogram. For the choice of therapeutic means, the pressure index is the best criterion, since it correlates with the severity of the disease. In the case of a pressure index 0.75, the medical treatment or the transluminal dilatation is preferred, whereas at an index of 0.7 the surgical revascularisation is considered necessary. Other ultrasonic parameters were also taken into account, such as the systolic passage time and the maximum velocity, which are less important in the attainment of the mentioned aims.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)