Evaluation of the correlation of wall elasticity between different sections of radial artery by velocity vector imaging.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the elasticity of the anterior and posterior walls of the radial artery in different sections using velocity vector imaging.

Material and methods: In this retrospective analysis, 30 healthy people who underwent physical examination in our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were analyzed offline by velocity vector imaging technology. The following parameters were assessed: peak systolic strain (Ss; %), peak diastolic strain (Sd; %), peak systolic strain rate (SRs; 1/s), and peak diastolic strain rate (SRd; 1/s). Elastic function was evaluated by analyzing the systolic and diastolic motion of the arterial walls.

Result: In the long-axis sections, there was a significant positive correlation between Ss, SRs, and SRd of both the anterior and posterior walls (r=0.531, r=0.803, and r=0.898, all p<0.01). Additionally, Sd showed a positive correlation (r=0.402, p<0.05). In the short-axis sections, there was a significant and positive correlation between SRs and SRd of both walls (r=0.762, r=0.667, both p<0.01). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between SRd in the long-axis and short-axis sections of the anterior wall (r=0.382, p<0.05).

Conclusions: Velocity vector imaging is a valuable tool for assessing the elasticity of the radial artery in different sections, and the longitudinal SRd in the long-axis section may serve as a highly sensitive and accurate parameter for assessing changes in wall elastic function during the occurrence of radial artery lesions.