Ultrasound diagnostics has long been actively used in all fields of medicine. Technologies are constantly being improved, which allows us to evaluate more and more parameters. Modern ultrasound is a hardware procedure that in real time demonstrates blood flow in several ways: sound, graphic, quantitative.
What is an ultrasound of the vessels of the legs
Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities is an informative research method that allows for early diagnosis, which means achieving a more effective treatment of diseases of the veins and arteries, which affects a huge number of our contemporaries.
The identification of pathologies in the early stages makes it possible to stop the progression of vascular diseases and avoid the severe and dangerous complications with which they are fraught.
Previously, ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities made it possible to judge only the nature of the blood flow by the Doppler curve on the monitor. However, today it is already possible to see veins and arteries (their diameter, condition of the walls), do a spectral analysis of blood flow in the vessels during duplex scanning, monitor and evaluate blood flow in 3D mode with triplex.
Indications for ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities
An ultrasound examination of the veins can be prescribed for the following complaints and conditions:
swelling and pain in the legs;
heaviness and fatigue of the legs;
leg cramps at night;
numbness and tingling in the limbs;
purple mesh;
discoloration of the skin of the legs;
trophic ulcers;
restless legs syndrome (there is a need to move legs at night);
protruding veins on the lower extremities.
Ultrasound of arteries is indicated in the following cases:
pain in legs when walking;
pain in the feet and fingers at night;
previous operations on the arteries of the legs;
with diabetes.
What diagnoses can be made using this method
With the help of ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, the following pathologies can be detected:
Varicose veins on the legs. Symptoms: edema, bulging veins, itching, pain, heaviness in the legs, thickening and darkening of the skin of the legs. With varicose veins, stagnation of venous blood, valve failure, and vasodilation are observed.
Deep vein thrombosis on the legs. With this disease, blood clots form in the blood vessels that impede blood flow. While walking, pain appears in the ankle joint.
Obliterating atherosclerosis of the vessels of the legs. The disease is characterized by thickening of the walls of large arteries as a result of the deposition of cholesterol on them. The main signs: fatigue and pain in the legs when walking up the stairs or uphill, cold extremities, impaired hair growth on the legs, the appearance of ulcers.
Obliterating endarteritis of the vessels of the legs. This is inflammation and narrowing of the small arteries. It is manifested by edema, pallor of the skin and their dryness, goose bumps, bluish and brittle nails, increased sweating of the legs.
How to spend
During the procedure, the patient lies. The doctor examines the control points using a sensor.
At the same time, it examines veins and arteries of various calibers. The uniformity of blood flow and its changes due to blockage or narrowing of the lumen, the structure and course of blood vessels, the probability of compression of the arteries, the severity of their spasms are assessed.
Since vein diseases are more common, special attention is given to their examination. In particular, the patency of deep veins in the legs and the viability of the valves are evaluated. Approximately 30-50 minutes are taken by ultrasound of the vessels.
Price
The cost of the procedure may be different, depending on the level of the medical institution and the region. Ultrasound of the vessels of the upper and lower extremities on average costs 1000 rubles, ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and brain - about 1500 rubles.