Emergency color Doppler sonography of the extremity artery: A pictorial essay

Arterial color duplex sonography (CDUS) of the extremities is routinely analyzed in the field of emergency radiology. A retrospective review of 500 consecutive arterial CDUS extremity studies was performed in our emergency department. Abnormal CDUS examinations were classified into two groups according to their primary etiology: 1) traumatic arterial injuries (accidents or post-operative complications) and 2) acute arterial ischemia (thrombosis or embolism outside of the setting of acute trauma). This article reviews common CDUS imaging findings in a busy emergency radiology division including traumatic pseudoaneurysm, secondary pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, acute ischemic arterial disease and chronic peripheral arterial disease. This essay highlights the crucial role of CDUS in the diagnosis of vascular abnormalities in the emergency setting. CDUS provides several advantages over other imaging modalities including high accuracy, rapid results, portability, lack of radiation, and low cost.