Correlation between microcirculation and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography after crush injury of limbs

Abstract

Purpose

To explore the microcirculation formation mechanism of contrast-enhanced (CE) ultrasonography imaging performance in rabbits with limb muscle crush injury.

Methods

Seventy-two New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. A limb muscle crush injury model was created by airing a balloon cuff device with a force of 40 kpa. CE ultrasonography parameters were detected in the first group. In vivo microcirculation parameters were detected in the second group. Fine blood vessel diameter and blood flow velocity were calculated before extrusion and 0.5, 2, 6, 24 h, and 3 days after decompression.

Results

Compared with the uninjured muscle, reperfusion of the injured muscles showed early and high enhancement in CE ultrasonography images. The time-intensity curve showed a trend of rapid elevation and gradual drop. Compared with the control group, fine artery and vein diameters in the experimental group were wider and the blood flow velocity was slower, especially in the fine veins.

Conclusion

In vivo microcirculation detection can reflect changes in muscle microvascular diameter and blood flow velocity, which have a correlation with quantitative ultrasound imaging parameters.