End-diastolic velocity (Doppler ultrasound)

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 29 Jul 2020

End-diastolic velocity (EDV) is an index measured in spectral Doppler ultrasound. On a Doppler waveform, the EDV corresponds to the point marked at the end of the cardiac cycle (just prior to the systolic peak) 1. In some equipment, the timing of cardiac cycle events may be automatically marked using a built-in algorithm. Alternatively, manual marking may be used 1.

Blood velocity indices are calculated using the magnitude of Doppler shift exhibited by red blood cells flowing in a vessel. The spectral Doppler system utilizes Fourier analysis and the Doppler equation to convert this shift into an equivalent velocity, which is traced over time 2

By the Doppler equation, it is noted that the magnitude of the Doppler shift is proportional to the cosine of the angle (of insonation) formed between the ultrasound beam and the axis of blood flow 2. Since the trigonometric ratio that relates these values is the cosine function, it follows that the angle of insonation should be maintained at ≤60o 2,3. At angles >60o, the cosine function curves much more steeply, leading to a significant reduction in the accuracy of angle correction, and thus the accuracy of blood velocity indices such as peak systolic velocity (PSV) and EDV 3.

Flow velocity may vary based on vessel properties and pathological changes 4,5.

Low resistance vessels (e.g. internal carotid arteryrenal artery) supply end organs which require perfusion throughout the entire cardiac cycle. These vessels exhibit high diastolic flow and EDV 5. In contrast, high resistance vessels (e.g. external carotid artery, limb arteries) are characterized by early reversal of diastolic flow, and low or absent EDV 5.

In stenosis, a localized reduction in vascular radius increases resistance, causing increased PSV and EDV distal to the stenosed site 4,5. High flow velocity causes Reynolds number to increase beyond a critical point, resulting in turbulent flow which manifests as spectral broadening on Doppler ultrasound 4

To an extent, an increased degree (percentage occlusion) of stenosis corresponds to increased PSV and EDV 5. In near occlusion (>99%), flow velocity indices become unreliable (may be high, low or absent) 5. In this setting, a significant reduction in post-stenotic flow velocity is termed “trickle flow” 6. PSV and EDV are absent in complete occlusion 5.

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