Background: EVAR has emerged as an alternative to open AAA repair in recent times, bringing with it new diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, including the need for lifelong surveillance. Traditionally, CTA has been the gold-standard for the first post-operative scan following EVAR. However, this entails risk exposure including contrast nephropathy and radiation. Several studies have looked into CDU as an alternative tool for EVAR surveillance, with conflicting results. Aims: To examine post-operative CDU results and compare them with CTA results, used as the gold-standard. Methods: All patients who underwent an EVAR for infrarenal AAA at our institution between 2003 and 2017, and had a CTA and CDU within 30 days of the procedure were included in our analysis. Results: There was perfect correlation between CTA and CDU when examining sac size and the presence or absence of endoleak, with a good correlation when looking at the type of endoleak. Conclusion: CDU is a safe and effective post-operative EVAR surveillance tool when carried out by experienced operators in an appropriate patient population.

Introduction: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has proven benefit in stroke prevention. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term benefit of the post-operative colour duplex ultrasound (CDU) in a follow-up programme. Patients and Methods: All patients who underwent CEA for both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis between the 1st January 2007 and 31st of December 2008 were included. All patients were enrolled in a standard post-operative surveillance programme, which included a CDU within 2 days post operatively, at 6 months and at 2 years. All scans were performed by one of four senior vascular technologists using a linear 9MHz transducer and grading based on velocities according to international guidelines. Results: A total of 167 (102 male) patients with a mean (±SD) age of 69.5±8.06 years were included. There was no age difference based on gender. 130 (77.8%) completed their full 2-year follow-up programme. 76 patients had right-sided CEA and 91 left-sided. 101 had a widely patent ICA post-CEA, with appearance of residual stenosis (expressed as %) in 23 (50–69%), 3 (70–80%) and 3 occluded. At 6 months this proportion changed to 88, 23, 5, 3 patients and at 2 years 85, 37, 4, 4 patients respectively. No re-stenosis patient became symptomatic or had re-intervention. Therefore, in 105 patients the carotid appearance immediately post-operatively and at 2 years did not change. Contralaterally, 64 had a stable carotid plaque, 5 showed progression, while 23 improved. Conclusion: Carotid Duplex Ultrasound performed immediately post-operatively predicts the outcome at 2 years.

Introduction . Maximum diameter of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the main indication for surgery. This study compared colour duplex ultrasound (CDU) and computed tomography (CT) in assessing AAA diameter. Patients and Methods . Patients were included if they had both scans performed within 90 days. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, paired t -test, and limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated for the whole group. Subgroup analysis of small (<5.0 cm), medium (5.0–6.5 cm), and large (>6.5 cm) aneurysms was performed. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results . 389 patients were included, giving 130 pairs of tests for comparison. Excellent correlation was in the whole group ( r = 0.95) and in the subgroups ( r = 0.94; 0.69; 0.96, resp.). Small LOA between the two imaging modalities was found in all subgroups. Conclusion . Small aneurysms can be accurately measured using CDU. CDU is preferable for small AAAs, but cannot supplant CT for planning aortic intervention.