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DOI: 10.1055/a-2807-1797
Gastrointestinal Tract

Evaluation of Wall Shear Stress and Turbulence Characteristics of the Superior Mesenteric Artery in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis by Ultrasound Vector Flow Imaging

Ultraschall-Vektor-Blutflussbildgebung zur Bewertung von Scherspannungs- und Turbulenzmerkmalen an der Wand der mesenterialen Arterie superior bei Kindern mit akuter Gastroenteritis

Authors

  • Huan Lu

    1   Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Ringgold ID: RIN74599)

  • Yixin Li

    1   Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Ringgold ID: RIN74599)

  • Junbin Du

    1   Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Ringgold ID: RIN74599)

  • Chunmiao Zhu

    1   Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Ringgold ID: RIN74599)

  • Zhe Chen

    2   Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Ringgold ID: RIN117825)

  • Jiajia Wang

    2   Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Ringgold ID: RIN117825)

  • Ruoting Zheng 

    1   Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China (Ringgold ID: RIN74599)
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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the diagnostic value of ultrasound vector flow imaging in children with acute gastroenteritis.

Materials and Methods

Pediatric patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis at our hospital were recruited. US examinations were carried out using a Recho R9S system. Ultrasound vector flow imaging was utilized to measure the wall shear stress (WSS) and turbulence (Tur) index in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). A control group of healthy children was established for comparison. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the critical values of WSS for predicting acute gastroenteritis.

Results

The Tur values, mean WSS, and max WSS values in the disease group were significantly higher than those in the healthy group. ROC analysis indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) reached its maximum when the cutoff values for mean WSS and max WSS were 0.43 Pa and 2.41 Pa, respectively. Among these, the mean WSS exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity, at 79.6% and 77.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

Ultrasound vector flow imaging offers an objective, quantitative, noninvasive, and well-tolerated diagnostic indicator with high clinical value for children with acute gastroenteritis, thus justifying its wider application in clinical practice.

Key Points

  • V Flow was first applied to assess the SMA in children with AG.

  • In the AG group, both the WSS and Tur intensity were increased.

  • The mean WSS exhibited the highest sensitivity and specificity.

  • V flow provides valuable guidance for the clinical diagnosis of diseases.

Citation Format

  • Zheng R, Lu H, Li Y et al. Evaluation of Wall Shear Stress and Turbulence Characteristics of the Superior Mesenteric Artery in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis by Ultrasound Vector Flow Imaging. Rofo 2026; DOI 10.1055/a-2807-1797

Zusammenfassung

Ziel

Die diagnostische Relevanz der Ultraschall-Vektorflussbildgebung bei Kindern mit akuter Gastroenteritis zu bewerten.

Materialien und Methoden

Kinder mit der Diagnose akuter Gastroenteritis, die in unserem Krankenhaus behandelt wurden, wurden rekrutiert. Die Ultraschalluntersuchungen wurden mit einem Recho R9S-System durchgeführt. Zur Messung des Wand-Schergeschwindigkeits-(WSS-) und Turbulenz-(Tur-) Index in der oberen Mesenterialarterie (SMA) wurde die Ultraschall-Vektorströmungs-Imaging-Technik eingesetzt. Zur Vergleichsgruppe dienten gesunde Kinder. Zur Bestimmung der kritischen Werte von WSS zur Vorhersage akuter Gastroenteritis wurden Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-Kurven erstellt.

Ergebnisse

Die Tur-Werte, der mittlere WSS- sowie der maximale WSS-Wert in der erkrankten Gruppe waren signifikant höher als in der gesunden Gruppe. Die ROC-Analyse zeigte, dass die Fläche unter der Kurve (AUC) ihren Höchstwert erreichte, wenn die Schwellenwerte für den mittleren WSS und den maximalen WSS jeweils 0,43 Pa bzw. 2,41 Pa betrugen. Dabei wiesen der mittlere WSS die höchsten Werte für Sensitivität und Spezifität auf, nämlich 79,6% bzw. 77,4%.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ultraschall-Vektorflussbildgebung bietet bei Kindern mit akuter Gastroenteritis einen objektiven, quantitativen, nicht-invasiven und gut verträglichen diagnostischen Indikator mit hohem klinischem Wert und rechtfertigt daher eine breitere Anwendung in der klinischen Praxis.

Kernaussagen

  • V Flow wurde erstmals zur Beurteilung des SMA bei Kindern mit AG eingesetzt.

  • In der AG-Gruppe waren sowohl die WSS- als auch die Tur-Intensität erhöht.

  • Der mittlere WSS wies die höchste Sensitivität und Spezifität auf.

  • V-Fluss liefert wertvolle Hinweise für die klinische Diagnose von Erkrankungen.

Keywords

Ultrasound vector flow imaging - Acute gastroenteritis - Superior mesenteric artery - Wall shear stress - Turbulence


Publication History

Received: 27 November 2025

Accepted after revision: 31 January 2026

Article published online:
26 February 2026

© 2026. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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