From B-Mode to 3-D: State of the Art and Clinical Advances in Vascular Ultrasound

Dear Colleagues,

Vascular ultrasound, also known as duplex ultrasonography or Doppler ultrasound, is a medical imaging technique that allows for the visualization and assessment of blood vessels. High-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) are directed into the body, and their reflections are used to create real-time images of blood flow within blood vessels. In addition, the Doppler effect allows for the measurement of blood velocity and direction. Advantages involve its non-invasive and pain-free character, the absence of ionizing radiation such as X-ray, the provision of real-time images allowing immediate assessment, and its ability to provide functional assessment (such as velocity, direction, resistance, and compressibility). On the other hand, the quality of the ultrasound depends on the skill on the investigator and is highly operator-dependent. In addition, it can be limited by patient factors such as obesity and anatomical factors such as deep vessels and cannot visualize vessels behind bone or air-filled structures. Nevertheless, vascular ultrasound has become routine in most medical disciplines for blood vessel assessment. It is the standard diagnostic tool for peripheral and supraaortic vascular diseases such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease and carotid artery stenosis, thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency, and arteriovenous dialysis shunt assessment. It can be used pre-, intra-, and postoperatively. For special situations such as the postoperative control of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an accepted alternative to computed tomography angiography. Another modern application mode is intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) used for special indications such as the localization of re-entries in aortic dissection or stent graft integrity assessment. Tomographic 3D ultrasound is still a novel feature which is being investigated for AAA and carotid artery stenosis assessment, although it is not yet used in clinical routine. The aim of this Special Issue is to present contemporary developments of vascular ultrasound, the wide range of indications of ultrasound, and new perspectives on how vascular ultrasound may change vascular diagnostic approaches in the future.

Dr. Philip Dueppers
Dr. Thomas Stadlbauer
Guest Editors

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