Changes in phasic femoral artery flow induced by various stimuli: a study with percutaneous pulsed Doppler ultrasound

Abstract

SUMMARY Transcutaneous blood flow measurements were performed by means of a pulsed Doppler ultrasound flowmeter in the femoral artery of healthy subjects. The pulsatile flow pattern was changed characteristically from resting state by postocclusive reactive hyperaemia, by the application of amyl nitrite, xanthinol nicotinate, and angiotensin amide. During reactive hyperaemia systolic flow was increased, diastolic reverse flow was abolished, and the forward flow continued throughout diastole. Amy1 nitrite augmented the negative flow phase and reduced mean flow, while xanthinol nicotinate decreased the negative component and augmented mean flow. Angiotensin amide produced enhancement of the average flow by elevating systolic and diastolic flow equally over the base line. In each of these interventions the changes in flow were determined mainly by variations during the diastolic flow phase.

Manipulation of arterial stiffness, wave reflections, and retrograde shear rate in the femoral artery using lower limb external compression

“…During conditions of reactive hyperemia, there is no retrograde flow in peripheral vessels (Mahler et al. ). Similarly, there is reduced magnitude of pressure from wave reflections during reactive hyperemia owing to vasodilation of downstream vessels (Nichols et al.…”

“…There is no retrograde flow in the splanchnic branches of the abdominal aorta and this too has been attributed to low peripheral vascular resistance and reflection coefficients in this vascular bed (Nichols et al 2011). During conditions of reactive hyperemia, there is no retrograde flow in peripheral vessels (Mahler et al 1977). Similarly, there is reduced magnitude of pressure from wave reflections during reactive hyperemia owing to vasodilation of downstream vessels (Nichols et al 2011).…”

“…The peripheral blood flow waveform in human conduit arteries is triphasic, exhibiting characteristic antegrade (forward) flow during systole and a combination of retrograde (backward) and secondary antegrade flow during early and late diastole, respectively (Mahler et al. ; Marquis et al. ; Hashimoto and Ito ).…”

“…The peripheral blood flow waveform in human conduit arteries is triphasic, exhibiting characteristic antegrade (forward) flow during systole and a combination of retrograde (backward) and secondary antegrade flow during early and late diastole, respectively (Mahler et al 1977;Marquis et al 1984;Hashimoto and Ito 2010). Whereas antegrade shear is associated with an antiatherosclerotic phenotype, increased retrograde shear is associated with endothelial dysfunction and a proatherogenic phenotype (Gnasso et al 1996;Kornet et al 1999;Thijssen et al 2009;Duivenvoorden et al 2010;Chiu and Chien 2011).…”

Pulse Pressure Amplification, Arterial Stiffness, and Peripheral Wave Reflection Determine Pulsatile Flow Waveform of the Femoral Artery

“…Our results indicating the contribution of the pulse amplification to the femoral reverse flow accord well with the observations of previous relevant studies. For instance, both pulse amplification 29 and femoral reverse flow 18,20,22 have been shown to increase in response to treatment with nitrate vasodilators. Both are decreased by cigarette smoking 21,30 and with aging.…”