The purpose of this article was to investigate the detection rate of gastroduodenal artery blood flow (GDABF), and to measure its velocity and volume flow rate using Doppler color imaging. The GDABF was detected in 40 of 41 (98%) normal subjects with longitudinal scanning and in 36 (88%) with transverse scanning. The velocity of the GDABF was 21 +/- 8 cm/sec (m +/- SD) and the volume flow rate was 67 +/- 20 mL/min. Without color Doppler, the vascular lumina of the GDA was demonstrated in 27 (66%) subjects by longitudinal scanning and in 26 (63%) by transverse scanning. The hemodynamics of the GDA were revealed noninvasively using Doppler ultrasonography in a patient with a malignant islet cell tumor of the pancreas and one with a ductal cell carcinoma of the pancreas.

Since maxillofacial malignancy is a common cause of facial defects and disfigurement of the face that may make fitting of a mask difficult and cause air leakage from the side, thus making mask ventilation difficult. In addition, distorted anatomy of the airway and base of the skull in such patients may cause difficult intubation (DI). We experienced a case with a huge facial defect due to maxillary carcinoma, in which difficult mask ventilation (DMV) and DI were predicted. After evaluation by three-dimensional airway computed tomography, the airway was secured with conscious sedation using dexmedetomidine, and awake fiberoptic intubation was safely performed. Three-dimensional airway computed tomography seems to be a good tool for successful intubation when DMV and DI are predicted.

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