Automated 3D ultrasound enables novice users to measure arteriovenous fistula maturation parameters with comparable accuracy to conventional duplex by trained sonographers: Results of a benchtop study

Abstract

Background: Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are considered the preferred hemodialysis access but up to 50% of all AVF created in the United States never mature. Doppler ultrasound (DUS) is useful for predicting fistula maturity and impending fistula failure. DUS is resource-intensive and is associated with poor compliance rates in dialysis patients, ranging from 12% to 33%. Methods: EchoSure is an FDA-cleared 3D Doppler ultrasound device that automatically delivers quantitative blood flow and anatomic vascular information. The technology can be used at the bedside by personnel without formal sonographic training, nullifying limitations of traditional Duplex ultrasound imaging. This study compared the EchoSure system in the hands of inexpert personnel to a traditional expert-operated DUS for rapid assessment of a benchtop model vascular system with flow, diameter, and depth expected in a human AVF. Results: Both Duplex and EchoSure performed within the expected tolerance of ultrasound readings (35%) for volume flow, with the average error (AE) between the observed measurement and the ground truth being 8% for Duplex and 8% for EchoSure. However, the average coefficient of variation (CV) for Duplex pooled over all flow rate measurements was 17% versus 4% for EchoSure. Regarding diameter, Duplex measurements had AE of 15% with an average CV of 6% across all measurements versus EchoSure AE of 4% and average CV of 2%. Duplex and EchoSure measurements over all depths had the same AE of 2%. The two modalities were not statistically different for depth measurement ( p = 0.05) but EchoSure measured closer to the ground truth for flow rate and vessel diameter (flow: p = 0.028, ρ = −0.07; diameter: p < 0.001, ρ = 0.69). The inexpert personnel using EchoSure acquired data 62% faster than the expert sonographers using the Duplex ultrasound (141 min for Duplex vs 87 min for EchoSure). Conclusions: EchoSure may offer an accurate and convenient alternative for imaging fistulas in the clinic.