Objective: To explore the value of power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) in the evaluation of acute kidney injury(AKI).
Methods: Renal blood flow of 40 AKI cases was monitored by power Doppler ultrasound and 4-level semiquantitative PDU score method employed. All cases were divided into 3 groups by PDU score. AKI stage and duration were compared. And the co-variables of death and (continuous renal replacement therapy) CRRT days (> 3) were also analyzed by Logistic regression analysis.
Results: A total of 40 AKI case were recruited. The 3-score group (n = 13)has lower mortality in intensive care unit and at 28 days than the 2-score group (n = 15) and the 1-score group (n = 12). The number of stage-3 AKI in the 3-score group was less than that in the 2-score and 1-score groups (n = 1, 4, 9 correspondingly, χ(2) = 16.103, degree of freedom = 4, P = 0.003). The number of persistent AKI in the 3-score group was less than that in the 2-score and 1-score groups (n = 3, 9, 10 correspondingly, P < 0.05). Age, APACHEII score and PDU score (< 3) were closely correlated with death while age, APACHEII score, level of serum creatinine and PDU score (< 3) with CRRT days (> 3) (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: PDU may be used to monitor renal hemodynamics in AKI patients and its score helps clinicians to evaluate the severity and prognosis of AKI.