Operative color Doppler imaging for general surgery

Operative CDI was performed during 125 general surgical operations (53 hepatic, 25 biliary, 24 pancreatic, 7 esophagogastric, 10 pulmonary, 3 kidney transplant, and 3 soft tissue operations). Operative CDI provided beneficial information in 108 of 125 operations (86.4%). On the basis of operative CDI findings, surgical management was altered in 34 of 125 operations (27.2%), most frequently hepatic and pancreatic operations. Operative CDI demonstrated advantages over B-mode imaging in (1) detection and localization of small blood vessels that are impossible or difficult to identify by B-mode imaging, (2) rapid and definitive distinction of blood vessels from other hypoechoic areas, such as tissue spaces and ducts, (3) determination of the relation of tumors to vascular structures such as vascular invasion of carcinoma, (4) confirmation of blood flow to organs after surgical procedures, and (5) clearer needle localization for guidance of needle placement by color motion marking.