Doppler sonography. A bedside noninvasive method for assessment of carotid artery disease

The technique of ultrasonic sonography is a noninvasive safe procedure that can be performed in a short period of time. Utilizing the supraorbital anastomotic loop and the effect of temporal artery compression on flow dynamics, we correctly determined patency or obstruction of the internal carotid artery in 83% of our studies, a statistically significant result. The high incidence of false positive studies may indicate that Doppler sonography is more sensitive than carotid arteriograms in detecting carotid occlusive disease. The low incidence of false negative studies was significant in that we were not missing many lesions. Ophthalmologists who see patients with amaurosis fugax or bright retinal plaques can use Doppler sonography to identify those patients who should be subjected to carotid arteriography.