2025/08/18 by Ose‑Emenim, Igbinedion Blessing, Usuanle, Ogbeide Osesogie
#Doppler scan #Doppler sonographic diagnosis #Doppler utilization
paper · doi:10.82235/wajr.vol22no1.295
Introduction: The use of Doppler scan in the evaluation of patients is crucial. Doppler application has found a wide range of utilization in medicine especially in the evaluation of cardiovascular anomalies such as in the detection of peripheral vascular disease and deep vein thrombosis. The aim of this study is to document the patients’ presenting complaints and the corresponding Doppler diagnosis made. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The patients’ data (including Doppler sonographic data) of all the 121 patients who had Doppler scans done within the year 2012 were pooled and analyzed. Consent for the study was approved by the ethical committee of the hospital. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS version 17.0). Results: There were males 61 (50.4%) and females 60 (49.6%) in the study group. The mean age was 52.9 ± 21 years (minimum age of 7 months and maximum of 100 years). The lower limb was the most common region of the body interrogated, accounting for 69.4% followed by the neck, 16.5%; abdomen, 8.3%; upper limb, 3.3%; scrotum, 1.7% and head, 0.8%. Leg swelling, peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were the most common presenting complaints with a cumulative frequency of 38.8%, whereas PVD, DVT and carotid plaque were the most common diagnosis made with a cumulative frequency of 48.7%. Conclusion: The use of Doppler ultrasound may lead to various important vascular diagnoses, which have profound usefulness in multiple clinical settings, including the emergency management of DVT.