Pattern of Lower Limb Doppler Ultrasonography Requests and Findings in a Tertiary Institution in Makurdi; North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Doppler ultrasound scan (DUS) is a valuable, cost effective, and relatively rapid diagnostic technique that provides a non-invasive assessment of the vascular circulation in the lower limb. Aims: To determine the pattern of lower limbs Doppler requests in our environment and to evaluate the Doppler findings. Study Design: Retrospective study Place and Duration of Study: Radiology department of Benue state university Teaching Hospital over a one-year period from January 2018 to December 2018. Methods: We included 200 patients that had lower limb Doppler ultrasound for various indications. Data on age, gender, indications and findings was retrieved from departmental cards and case notes, then collated and analyzed using SPSS software version 23, with the P value taken as =.005. Results: Two hundred patients were scanned;106 males and 94 females with age range of 10-109 years. Their mean age was 34.2 ±13.5 years. Most patients 48(24.0%), who presented for Doppler sonography of the lower limb had diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), followed by left leg swelling in 42(21.0%) patients. DVT alone was indicated in 33(16.5%) patients. Both DFU and DVT were more in the male patients with a M:F ratio of 26:22 and 21:12 respectively. The indications for lower limb doppler ultrasound scan are seen to generally increase with increasing age, with the least among those less than 40years 32(16.0%) and highest among the greater than 60years age groups 89(44.5%). At doppler ultrasound, there are more patients with Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) 104(52.0%). Normal study and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) have equal incidence respectively in 48(24%) of the patients. DVT and PVD were more in the male group with a M: F ratio of 55:49 and 27:21 respectively while normal studies were seen equally in both sexes (M: F=24:24). Conclusion: Doppler ultrasound has been shown to be a cost-effective and valuable non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of lower limb vascular diseases.