Intraparenchymal Doppler ultrasound after proximal embolization of the splenic artery in trauma patients.

We studied the changes in proximal embolization of the splenic artery to the intraparenchymal blood flow with Doppler ultrasound. Seventeen trauma patients with spleen injury OIS grade 2-5 underwent embolization of the splenic artery. Peak-systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) were measured in intrasplenic arteries initially 1 day after embolization, at early follow-up after 7 days, at intermediate follow-up after 10 weeks, and at late follow-up after 10 months. Resistance index (RI), systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D ratio), acceleration (AC), and acceleration time (AT) were calculated. The results were compared to values from 17 volunteers. RI increased from 0.39 initially to 0.49 (P = 0.002) at intermediate and to 0.52 (P < 0.001) at late follow-up. S/D ratio increased from 1.68 initially to 1.99 (P = 0.002) and to 2.10 (P < 0.001) at intermediate and late follow-up, respectively. Follow-up results of RI and S/D ratio differed significantly from the reference group. AC increased from 1.06 m/s(2) initially to 1.89 m/s(2) at late follow-up (P = 0.01). AC at late follow-up was not different from reference group (2.33 m/s(2)). In conclusion, Doppler ultrasound is a useful tool in the evaluation of improvable intraparenchymal blood flow over time after central splenic artery embolization.