Superior mesenteric artery Doppler waveform changes in response to inflammation of the ileocecal region

Abstract.

In the present study, we determined how Doppler waveforms of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are affected by inflammatory processes in the ileocecal region. Twenty-two patients (aged 20–69 years) with ileocecal region inflammation (ICRI) were examined with duplex Doppler Ultrasonography to establish whether any significant changes were present in the mean blood flow parameters of peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index, pulsatility index, blood flow volume, and diameter of the SMA. The findings were compared with those of 22 volunteer controls. Mean blood flow volume in the SMA in patients with ICRI (1.128 ± 0.43 L/min) was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than that in the control group (0.643 ± 0.19 L/min). The mean PSV (1.87 ± 0.44 m/s) and the mean EDV (0.31 ± 0.18 m/s) were also significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those of the means in healthy subjects (mean PSV = 1.44 ± 0.26 m/s and mean EDV = 0.20 ± 0.05 m/s). ICRI, regardless of cause, increases both the flow velocities in the SMA and the flow volume to the SMA territory.