Objectives: To study the normal range and distribution of the resistive index (RI) and the resistive index ratio (RIR) in the non-obstructed non-dilated porcine kidney, and to assess the reliability of the threshold values RI 0.70 and RIR 1.10 as prognosticators of true obstruction in the upper urinary tracts.
Methods and materials: Twenty female pigs of Danish land race breed were studied under general anaesthesia. Blood pressure and urine output was monitored throughout the experiment. Doppler evaluations were obtained from an interlobar artery in the lower half of each kidney, and the RI was calculated as the average of 3 x 3 cycles for each side independently. Statistical analysis of the obtained results was performed.
Results: Forty renal units were studied. The RI values ranged from 0.48-0.85 (mean 0.63). Nine renal units (22.5%) had RI values > or = 0.70. RIR values ranged from 1.00-1.38 (mean 1.07). Three RIR values (15%) were above 1.10. There was no statistically significant relationship between RI and laterality (p = 0.25), and no overall significant relationship between RI and mean arterial blood pressure (r2 = 0.21) or urine output (r2 = 0.004).
Conclusions: This study shows a wide distribution of the RI normal values in the pig model, and our results do not support the normal ranges for RI and RIR, or the cut-off values used in clinical practice.