Vascular duplex scanning is a diagnostic procedure that demonstrates a picture of the state of the vessels of the body, which is performed with complete safety for the patient. During the diagnosis, the specialist receives a two-dimensional image of the vessels themselves, sees the state of their walls, the speed and nature of the blood flow. Also, the non-invasive method of study allows you to find out the presence of blockages, places of narrowing or widening of the lumen, thrombosis, atherosclerotic plaques, impaired blood movement and much more.
Definition of concepts
Patients quite often confuse two concepts: ultrasound dopplerography (Doppler ultrasound) and ultrasound duplex scanning of blood vessels (Doppler ultrasound). Both methods are used to study blood vessels, but there are differences, namely:
- UZDG - determines the patency of the vessels of the head, neck, legs. At the same time, the view of the vessel, its location is not displayed on the screen, the specialist can put the sensor in the place of the intended location of the vessel. That is, the study is conducted "blindly."
- UZDS - allows you to see the projection of the vessel, investigate its structure, functionality, determine the speed of blood flow, etc. A black and gray image of the vessel and tissues is displayed on the screen, as in the study of ultrasound. Modern devices display a picture in color.
The essence of the method
Duplex scanning of blood vessels is a method developed for a detailed study of vascular structures, their condition, and the nature of blood flow in them. The study combines two methods:
- The standard ultrasound mode allows you to consider the location of blood vessels in the body, measure the diameter of each of them, thereby evaluating the clearance, detect blood clots, blockages, etc. Modern sensors are able to demonstrate a layered image of the vessel.
- Dopplerometry mode is one of the types of ultrasound that displays the flow of blood particles inside the vessel, which makes it possible to assess the intensity of blood flow, the direction of its movement, measure speed, resistance and other indicators.
Ultrasonic duplex scanning of blood vessels allows you to get almost all the parameters of the blood lines to assess their condition and determine the diagnosis of the patient. The decisive advantage of the method is its absolute safety and the ability to diagnose after each stage of therapy.
Indications for the study
When making a diagnosis, the doctor directs the patient to this study, having discovered a number of pathologies that clearly indicate changes in the vessels or problems with blood flow.
Dopplerography (duplex scanning of blood vessels) is necessary if you suspect the following diseases and conditions:
- Impaired coordination, blurred vision, tinnitus, blurred vision, headache.
- Cases of loss of consciousness.
- Hypertension or periodic increase in pressure above the standard indicators of a particular patient.
- Different pressure indicators on the right and left hands.
- Diagnosed or suspected osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae.
- Postoperative examination of the vessels of the neck and head.
- Diagnosed vascular pathology.
- Preoperative study of the blood vessels, aimed at studying their condition to correct the plan of surgical intervention in a single system of the heart and blood vessels.
- Brain pathologies diagnosed by other methods.
- The presence of diseases leading to vascular compression (an increase in the size of the thyroid gland, tumor).
- The study of blood vessels after a number of diseases (stroke, brain and spinal cord tumors, etc.) and injuries (craniocerebral, complex fractures).
- Diseases of unknown etiology.
- Monitoring operations on vessels.
Risk groups
Duplex scanning of blood vessels is also prescribed for patients at risk of developing diseases. This category includes people with the prospect of developing atherosclerosis of blood vessels, namely:
- Smokers with a family predisposition.
- Patients with obesity, physical inactivity.
- Experiencing constant stress.
- Men and women over the age of 40.
- Diabetes patients of any stage.
- Patients with elevated blood cholesterol levels.
Types of research
Vascular scanning by the duplex method can act as an independent and only study of the state of highways for making an accurate diagnosis. However, most often it is an addition or basis for further clarifying activities using ultrasound methods.
Duplex scanning of blood vessels is used in the study:
- Thyroid gland. When studying this organ by the method of ultrasound scanning, nodal connections, autoimmune diseases, and neoplasms are found. Also, during the study, the vessels of the neck are covered by attention to detect atherosclerotic plaques, the lumen of blood vessels, blood clots, etc.
- Abdominal cavity. In the diagnosis of blood vessels, neoplasms are detected, the condition of the abdominal aorta is assessed, stratification of the tissues of the vessels or aneurysm, atherosclerotic plaques, thrombi are detected, the lumen is evaluated. UZDS allows you to study the state of the biliary tract, the movement of blood along the portal vein, etc.
- Kidney. It is used in the search for renal arteries and to assess their condition, helps to assess the viability, functionality of the paired organ. Additional inspection coverage demonstrates ureteral patency.
- Hearts. Displays the condition of the valves, the narrowing of the lumen of the arteries, defects or defects of the atrial, interventricular septum, etc.
- Gynecology. The study shows the intensity of blood supply to various neoplasms in the uterus, ovaries - endometrial polyps, cysts, nodes, etc. Allows you to monitor the movement of fluid in the fallopian tubes. The research method is shown during pregnancy to visualize the course of the umbilical cord, to examine the condition of the heart and blood vessels of the brain of the child.
- Head and neck. A duplex scan of the vessels of the brain and neck shows blood flow, vascular patency, lumen size and many other indicators. This type of study is most often prescribed to elucidate a wide range of diseases.
- Urology. The study helps to evaluate the redistribution of the density of the walls of blood vessels in case of prostate adenoma, is used when taking a Valsalva sample, is used to diagnose tumors, etc.
Details about the kidneys
Duplex scanning of the vessels of the kidneys is prescribed in such cases:
- Post-traumatic, postoperative condition.
- Renal failure.
- Renal vascular thrombosis.
- Neoplasms, nephroptosis.
A week before the date of diagnosis, the patient is strongly advised not to eat foods that cause the formation of gases - cabbage, bread, carbonated drinks, legumes, mushrooms, sweets. During the seven-day preparation for ultrasound, it is necessary to take sorbents. Also, no food should be consumed 6-7 hours before the start of the session. Duplex scanning of the kidneys does not affect patients who have undergone colonoscopy and fibrogastroscopy the day before. These types of diagnostics contribute to increased gas formation in the intestine.
For neck and head
Duplex scanning of the vessels of the head and neck is a planned event, held once a year. This approach to health allows the patient in the early stages to detect the appearance of pathology, which, with the correct diagnosis and treatment tactics, suppresses the disease, preventing it from developing into severe forms.
Using a duplex research method, a specialist assesses the hemodynamics of blood, studies the individual structure and location of veins and arteries, determines the degree of vascular damage, the state of valves in the veins, which speeds up the diagnosis process and clarifies the possibility of therapy.
Indications for diagnosis
What does a duplex scan of the vessels of the head and neck show ? When conducting it, you can identify:
- Vein blockage, including blood clots, atherosclerotic plaques.
- The magnitude of the narrowing or expansion of the arteries, the location of the pathology.
- Angiopathy, vascular changes.
Duplex scanning of the vessels of the head and neck is prescribed in such cases:
- After a stroke and head injuries.
- With headaches, dizziness, memory loss (temporary, permanent).
- With vascular pathologies of a congenital nature.
- Diagnosed vascular dystonia.
- Patients with a hereditary predisposition to a number of diseases (hypertension, diabetes).
- With nicotine addiction. It is necessary to regularly examine blood vessels in connection with the risk of stroke.
The following vascular systems are diagnosed:
- Vertebrates.
- Sleepy.
- Subclavian.
Duplex scanning of cerebral vessels is always carried out together with the diagnosis of neck vessels and is divided into types:
- Extracranial - a study of the main highways.
- Intracranial - examines intracerebral vessels.
- Transcranial - allows you to see the color duplex image of the brain.
Limb examination
Duplex scanning of vessels of the lower extremities is prescribed for the following symptoms:
- Deterioration of blood supply (numbness, cold fingers, coldness, decreased sensitivity, etc.).
- Damage to the arteries.
- Pain when walking.
- Signs and symptoms of arterial aneurysm.
- Heredity (predisposition to thrombosis).
- Pigmentation of skin.
What arteries are being examined
In the lower part of the body, duplex scanning is necessary for the following groups of arteries:
- Femoral (deep, superficial).
- Tibia (front, back).
- Iliac (general, external).
- Fibular.
- Popliteal.
- Dorsal (foot).
The collected research results indicate the condition of blood vessels and valves, blood flow, the presence of blood clots and other changes. The accuracy of the diagnosis allows the doctor to develop a treatment plan.
Where do they diagnose
There are no contraindications to the study. Duplex scanning of blood vessels also does not do the slightest harm to infants and babies. Where to make a diagnosis? Almost every ultrasound room is equipped with the necessary equipment for the entire spectrum of events. The direction to the procedure is issued by the attending physician.
In addition to the above groups of vessels, the study is conducted to study:
- The course of pregnancy.
- The vessels and ducts of the liver.
- The vessels of the eyeball.
- The prostate gland, etc.
Technical difficulties may arise associated with high-grade obesity in the patient. In this case, it will be difficult to see the vessels of the liver and kidneys. It will also be difficult to scan for severe open fractures or a large area of injury.
Preparation for the procedure
At any time, you can perform duplex scanning of blood vessels. Preparation consists in refusing or restricting certain types of foods and drinks. It is recommended to exclude tea, coffee, alcohol from the diet - these drinks cause vascular tone, which distorts the picture of the study.
At the preliminary consultation with the doctor, it is necessary to talk about the medications taken that affect the activity of the heart and blood vessels. The specialist must decide whether to stop taking the medicine.
How is the study
The patient is sent to the ultrasound room on his own, in the direction of the doctor or through the ambulance channels, in case of emergency hospitalization. A planned study refers to preventive measures, and an emergency is carried out in case of suspected ischemic stroke, aortic aneurysm, thrombosis and other serious diseases.
In the office, the patient is laid on a couch, frees the studied part of the body from clothes. The procedure begins with the application of a contact gel to the skin area, with the help of which the patency of the beam is improved and the best fit of the device to the skin is ensured. Data obtained during the procedure is displayed on the screen and read by the operator. Take pictures. The whole process takes no more than 30 minutes.
Decryption
The data of the study reflect the following indicators:
- The wall thickness of the test vessel.
- The presence of irregularities, seals on the surfaces of the vessel (internal, external).
- The amount of clearance.
- Blood flow characteristic.
- Blood speed.
- Anatomical features.
Depending on the degree of deviation, the doctor prescribes subsequent diagnostic procedures using other methods. For example, irregularities on the walls of blood vessels can indicate the onset of atherosclerosis or the formation of a blood clot, a decrease in the cross section of the vessel indicates stenosis. UZDS allows the specialist to get a picture of the state of the vessels and put the patient the correct diagnosis.