Ultrasound of veins and vessels of the lower extremities is a modern highly informative method for studying blood supply, which allows you to track the most minor deviations from the norm in the state of arteries, peripheral capillaries, veins in the legs. Diagnosis is carried out in clinics, diagnostic centers or in a hospital. The equipment is available in almost any medical institution where ultrasound is performed. Doppler angiography and duplex scanning refine the diagnosis and allow the specialist to see the complete clinical picture of the pathology.
Types of research
Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities displays reliable information on the state of the blood lines - vascular lumen, thinning or weakening of the venous walls, varicose expansion, allows you to evaluate blood flow. Based on the study, the specialist assesses the degree of damage to the circulatory system, the stage of the disease, and the location of its location. Also, guided by the conclusion obtained, the doctor draws conclusions about the work of the entire cardiovascular system.
To collect complete information, the modern diagnostic base uses several analysis methods:
- Angiography is a type of ultrasound of veins and vessels of the lower extremities, designed to check the condition of highways (valve functionality, defects and damage to the walls, the presence of blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques, wall thickness, physiological location of blood vessels, etc.).
- Doppler mapping - allows you to track the speed of blood flow, patency of veins and arteries, evaluate the function of valves and the tone of the walls of blood vessels. Demonstrates the presence of blood clots, aneurysms, varicose veins, disturbances in the movement of blood flow.
- Ultrasound method - duplex scanning of veins of the lower extremities. To date, it is considered the best research method, giving the most accurate idea of the state of the circulatory system. It allows you to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate blood flow, the condition of the walls, any types of blockages, and reveals functional and organic pathologies of arteries and veins.
- Triplex scanning is a type of duplex study that allows you to view veins, arteries and their location in the form of a volumetric scheme. The method is relevant in preparation for surgical interventions, so that the surgeon is guided in the surgical field.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a full range of ultrasound examinations in order to thoroughly analyze the condition of the external and deep veins, arteries and capillaries. This amount of effort, most often, is spent on patients first contacting a doctor for pain in the legs and having diagnosed chronic diseases.
Indications for the study
The appointment for the study is given by a phlebologist. Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities must be performed with the following complaints and signs:
- A constant feeling of fatigue in the legs, not passing after a night's sleep and not associated with additional physical exertion.
- Pain and heaviness in the legs intensify in the afternoon.
- Swelling, discoloration of the limbs (permanent or intermittent).
- Feeling of numbness, tingling.
- Inadequate response to cold (itching, redness, "cyanosis").
- Spider veins.
- Inadequate pigmentation in purple, gray shades.
- Cramps of calves and feet.
- Reduced foot temperature at any time of the year.
If at least one of these signs appears, it is necessary to undergo a diagnosis and establish the cause of the ailment, the degree of threat. with timely contact with a specialist, it becomes possible to get rid of the disease in the early stages or to stabilize the condition with conservative methods of therapy.
Chronic Disease Surveillance
Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities should be regularly performed in patients with a chronic course of venous and arterial pathologies of the circulatory system in the legs.
Observations require the following diseases:
- Thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis.
- Varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, lymphostasis.
- Endarteritis, venous insufficiency.
- Postthrombotic syndrome.
- Postoperative period, etc.
Accessibility and simplicity make it possible to carry out ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities in the clinic, hospital, diagnostic center. A planned examination, in the framework of monitoring the course of a chronic disease, helps the patient and the doctor understand how well conservative treatment is progressing, what measures can be taken additionally, and it is possible to issue a verdict on the need for surgery.
Why research is important
The single circulatory system of the legs consists of three venous parts, some lines can not be seen or palpated. Therefore, it is so important to do an ultrasound of the deep veins of the lower extremities, superficial and peripheral systems. Modern methods of ultrasound diagnostics make it possible to examine in detail all three circulatory components, and if necessary, do this in several projections.
Deep veins are most at risk, they are not visible to the naked eye, devoid of muscle fibers, but they experience a powerful load - almost 90% of the blood runs along these highways. Ultrasound scanning and Doppler diagnostics allow a specialist to evaluate the work of veins that are not visible to the eye, and to understand what the problem consists of, if it is outlined.
The doctor examines the following vessels:
- Subcutaneous veins (small, large).
- Inferior vena cava.
- Popliteal, iliac veins.
- Femoral and deep veins of the lower leg.
Each vein group has its own norm values, any deviations from which are an application for the disease, even if there are no obvious external signs, discomfort, or clinical manifestations of the lesion. Early diagnosis helps to avoid the development of the disease and take adequate measures to prevent possible pathologies.
How is the procedure
It is unlikely that there will be a person who does not know what ultrasound is and who has not undergone this procedure at least once in his life. Approximately all patients understand how to do an ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities. The entire session takes no more than 60 minutes.
To access the test vessels, it is necessary to remove clothing that covers the legs, underwear is not necessary to remove. Skin areas are treated with contact gel. During the study, the patient takes the position of the body that is necessary for a thorough diagnosis. Often, a change of three positions is required - lying on your back, lying on your stomach and standing to identify vascular pathologies during exercise.
During the scanning period, the doctor moves the sensor along the skin area, at this moment on the monitor, in the current time mode, the image of blood vessels appears, changes are detected, blood flow is estimated. At the same time, many devices make it possible to hear the characteristic noises that the blood stream emits in the vessels. The examination is carried out by a phlebologist or a certified specialist in ultrasound diagnostics.
Research Objectives:
- Monitor tissue and blood vein conditions.
- Assess the functionality of the venous system, valves, each of its parts separately.
- Confirm or refute the development of thrombophlebitis, changes in the walls of blood vessels.
- Track the anatomical features of the passage of blood vessels, veins, arteries, capillary system.
The operator who performed the diagnosis may give some comments on the results, but the doctor provides a complete decryption. Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is a non-invasive, safe and accurate research method.
Additional features
In the process, the patient may be asked to conduct a series of specific actions, which is necessary to clarify the presence or absence of certain vascular lesions. The most informative and frequently used tests are the cough test and the Valsalva test. These procedures help a specialist rule out or confirm a blood clot.
The patient holds his breath, coughs, strains abdominal muscles. With such actions, in a relatively healthy person, on inspiration, the venous flow is weakened, and when exhaled it stabilizes. If the operation of the venous valves is impaired (fibrosis), then there is a reverse reflux of blood.
To obtain additional data, a coloring, microbubble gas is sometimes used, it is administered to the patient intravenously. The drug is not harmful to health and is excreted during breathing without a trace. Preparation for ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is not required, the diagnosis is carried out at any time.
Contraindications
Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is absolutely safe and can be performed even for infants and pregnant women, but there are a number of limitations associated with the observation method.
Do not diagnose with such diseases and conditions:
- Open leg wounds, injuries or extensive burns.
- Infectious skin lesions in the acute phase.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Heart failure, cerebrovascular accident in acute form.
- Asthma attacks, cardiac arrhythmia.
Limitations are associated with the condition of the patient. Ultrasound diagnostics are performed in the supine position, which in a patient with cardiovascular pathologies can cause a sudden attack of the disease or exacerbate the course of the chronic form of the disease.
Open wounds and burn injuries are not carried out due to the inability to apply contact gel and to carry out any movement on the surface of the body. Specialists experience difficulties in diagnosing the state of blood vessels, especially deep veins, in patients with obesity, visualization occurs with distortions, often blurred.
What shows an ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities
The task of a comprehensive ultrasound diagnosis includes analyzing the current functional state of the circulatory system of the lower extremities, identifying violations in its work, determining the localization of problems.
In conclusion, the specialist describes possible diseases and general indications:
- Varicose veins - a pathology of the walls of blood vessels, causing a violation of the functions of the venous valves and affecting the outflow of blood.
- Deep vein thrombosis - the formation of blood clots (blood clots) in the lumen of blood vessels and obstructing blood flow. Blood clots are life-threatening.
- Atherosclerosis is the development of cholesterol plaque in the form of plaques on the walls of blood vessels. The lack of adequate therapy provokes the development of thrombosis, weakening of the venous walls, narrowing of the diameter of blood vessels, obstruction of blood flow.
- Endarteritis is a lesion, followed by inflammation, of the arterial capillaries. The process can go to large arteries.
- Phlebitis is an inflammation of the walls of the vessels of the veins. It provokes thrombosis.
These diseases are the most common, caused by bad habits, a sedentary lifestyle, an unbalanced diet, obesity, the influence of the environment and many other factors.
The interpretation of the results of ultrasound diagnostics should be entrusted to an experienced doctor with a high level of qualification, he will be able to determine what is not visible in the pictures. For example, with a high calcification of small vessels, they will not be visible in the visualization, a specialist with wide knowledge will note this in the verdict.
What is written in the conclusion
A qualified interpretation of the results of ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities allows you to identify even the slightest deviations in the work of the circulatory system. You can entrust the interpretation of the study only to an experienced doctor - a phlebologist or a vascular surgeon.
The specialist evaluates the following indicators:
- Vmax is the maximum value of blood flow velocity.
- Vmin is the minimum rate of passage of blood.
- RI is an indicator of vascular resistance.
- PI is the ripple index.
- TIM - the thickness of the membranes of blood vessels (internal and secondary).
Each blood line has its own norm indicators, focusing on which the specialist determines the condition of the patient's blood vessels. Doing it yourself, based on averaged data, will fail.
The ultrasound procedure is available to almost all citizens. For example, how much will it cost to do an ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities in Moscow? The price of the procedure varies markedly depending on the complex of studies and the place where it is carried out.
With a high degree of information content of this type of diagnosis, it is optional. Based on the ultrasound, the doctor cannot establish the final diagnosis. To clarify it, the patient needs a comprehensive study of many health indicators, including laboratory tests, a series of specific tests, MRI, etc.
Where to get research
For help and diagnosis, patients turn to a phlebologist in a clinic or medical center. After conducting a surface examination, the specialist will definitely prescribe a study and tell you where to do an ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities. Devices are in any clinic, diagnostic, consultation center, where the equipment for ultrasound diagnostics is installed.
You can also turn to large state hospitals that have a department of vascular surgery for help, in which case it will be possible to undergo research for free. An ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities at home is performed if the patient cannot arrive at the medical facility. To receive services, they call a doctor from the clinic, the cost of diagnosis with a doctor’s visit and equipment will be more expensive.
The price of ultrasound diagnostics of the lower extremities is formed depending on how much work and research will have to be carried out, which vessels and veins will be covered in the diagnosis. The ultrasound procedure of the veins of the lower extremities in Moscow (we indicate the average price) is from 2 to 2.5 thousand rubles.
Who is at risk
Provoked vein diseases acquired, congenital, age-related factors or environmental effects.
Congenital include:
- Heredity (family history, coagulation defects, etc.).
Acquired:
- Blood coagulation disorders.
- Obesity, neoplasms.
- Chronic diseases
- Varicose veins, infectious diseases.
- Nephrotic syndrome, gypsum fixation.
- Injuries, surgical operations.
- Pregnancy, the postpartum period.
- The negative effects of the environment.
- Myeloproliferative diseases.
- Central venous catheter.
- Prolonged or continuous use of medications.
- Excessive physical activity, bedridden patients.
- Long journey in a sitting position.
Ultrasound examination is not final for the formation of a verdict on the disease. In conclusion, the specialist describes the general condition of the external and deep veins, arteries, finds the reasons for the deviation of blood flow from the norm or ascertains the fact of weakening of the venous wall, demonstrates the presence of blood clots, atherosclerotic plaques. The diagnosis is established on the basis of a complex of studies and tests, their obligatory part is ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities.