Doppler (duplex) vascular scanning is a widely used noninvasive ultrasound method. It is used to diagnose a disease, define the clinical picture, and track how the treatment of a condition is progressing. It involves ultrasound of the head, neck, and lower limbs, along with Doppler imaging of the vessels. In essence, duplex scanning combines two methods familiar to many people: ultrasound and Doppler. This method gives a picture of blood flow, makes it possible to visualize it, and helps establish the cause of impaired hemodynamics.
Indications for ultrasound of the head and neck vessels
This type of exam can be performed in infants, pregnant women, and older adults. It is indicated when other medical tests or the patient's own observations point to health problems such as:
- clinical signs of insufficient cerebral circulation (acute or chronic);
- reduced visual acuity and inability to focus on a specific object;
- memory decline;
- frequent headaches;
- constant noise in the head or dizziness;
- weakness in the limbs;
- frequent fainting;
- head injuries;
- strong sensitivity to weather changes;
- general weakness;
- numbness in the limbs;
- blood clots.
As noted above, a duplex scan of the head and neck vessels is indicated both to identify a disease and to monitor treatment, as well as for a preliminary exam before surgery.
Problems that can be detected with a duplex scan may include:
- vascular thrombosis;
- abnormalities in the structure of the vessels;
- abnormal vessel tortuosity;
- insufficient blood supply, abnormal blood flow;
- impaired elasticity and integrity of the vessel walls and of the compensatory regulatory mechanism that keeps the blood supply to the brain stable;
- chronic cerebral ischemia;
- dyscirculatory encephalopathy;
- cerebrovascular insufficiency;
- atherosclerotic damage to the arteries, and much more.
The scan makes it possible to identify the causes of reduced patency in the main vessels and to anticipate possible functional disorders. A wide range of diseases can accompany or cause problems with the vessels of the head and/or neck. For this reason, a duplex scan is often just one of the methods used as part of a comprehensive approach to health problems.
How to prepare
A duplex scan of the head and neck requires no special preparation. However, it is better to consult the specialists at Alt-Med medical center, because some medications can make the results incorrect (certain drugs affect vascular tone). In such cases, it is recommended to pause the medication a few days before the exam. You should also avoid overdoing energy drinks, coffee, and tea. If possible, also refrain from excessive physical exertion (unless it is your normal way of life, as with professional athletes) and from visiting a bathhouse or sauna.
The procedure consists of several stages:
- you lie on your back or side (the doctor decides which) and follow the specialist's instructions (you should not talk or move without the doctor's permission);
- the exam itself (the doctor applies a special gel to the probe and the exam area, which gives a clearer image on the screen, then presses the probe against the surface of the neck or head and moves it along);
- the medical professional prepares a conclusion (the tortuosity of the vessels, plaque formation or the risk of it, the diameter of the vessels and any deviation of these measures from normal, and the blood flow velocity).
To schedule a vascular Doppler scan, call us in Odesa:
(067) 946-16-16
(048) 703-70-99
(067) 921-47-96
(050) 567-04-59
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