Vascular and Duplex Ultrasound

Definition

A Doppler ultrasound is a test to see how blood moves through your arteries and veins.

Alternative Names

Vascular ultrasound; Peripheral vascular ultrasound.

How the test is performed

The test combines ultrasound and Doppler.

Regular ultrasound uses sound waves that reflect off blood vessels to create pictures.

Doppler ultrasound relies on sound waves being reflected off moving blood to measure their speed and direction.

A duplex ultrasound can help diagnose the following conditions:

• Abdominal aneurysm (blood-filled bulge in the wall of a blood vessel)
• Arterial occlusion (blockage)
• Blood clot
• Carotid occlusive disease (arteries in the neck become narrowed or blocked)
• Renal vascular disease
• Varicose veins
• Venous insufficiency

A renal duplex ultrasound can also be used after transplant surgery to see how well a new kidney is working.

You may need to wear a medical gown. You will lie down on a table, and the sonographer will spread a clear gel over the area being tested.

A hand held device, called a transducer is moved over the area being tested.

You need to stay still during the exam. You may be asked to lie in different body positions.

The Doppler creates a “swishing” sound, which is the sound of your blood cells moving through the arteries and veins.

How to prepare for the test

Usually, there is no preparation for a duplex ultrasound.

If you are having an ultrasound of your stomach area, you may be asked not to eat or drink after midnight. Tell the person doing the ultrasound exam if you are taking any medicines, such as blood thinners, that might affect the results of the test.

What abnormal results mean

An abnormal result depends on the specific area being examined. An abnormal result may be due to a blood clot or plaque buildup in a blood vessel.

What the risks are

There are no risks.