Doppler Ultrasound Scan

Doppler Ultrasound Scan

Doppler Ultrasound Scan adds motion, letting doctors measure:

  • Speed of blood flow
  • Direction of blood flow
  • Whether blood flow is normal, reduced, or blocked


How it works:

It uses sound waves that bounce off moving red blood cells. When the blood is moving toward or away from the probe, the sound waves change slightly (the "Doppler effect"), and the machine translates that into flow information.


What it’s used for:

Doctors commonly order Doppler ultrasound to:

  • Check for blood clots (like deep vein thrombosis)
  • Look for narrowed or blocked arteries
  • Evaluate varicose veins
  • Monitor blood flow during pregnancy (umbilical cord, placenta)
  • Assess heart valve and vessel function
  • Evaluate blood flow to organs (kidneys, liver, legs, neck/carotid arteries)


What it’s like as a patient:

  • Non-invasive
  • No radiation
  • Usually painless
  • Takes about 30–60 minutes


DVT Ultrasound Scan:

A Doppler ultrasound for DVT is the main test doctors use to see if there’s a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg.


What the Doppler ultrasound checks for:

  • Presence of a clot in the vein
  • Blocked or reduced blood flow
  • Whether the vein compresses normally (a healthy vein collapses when pressed; a clotted one doesn’t)


What happens during the test:

  • Gel is applied to your leg
  • A probe is moved along the veins (calf, behind the knee, thigh, sometimes groin)
  • The tech may press firmly — uncomfortable but brief
  • You might hear a “whooshing” sound (that’s blood flow)


What results can show:

  • No DVT → normal flow, vein compresses
  • Acute DVT → vein doesn’t compress, clot visible, reduced flow
  • Chronic DVT → thickened vein walls, partial flow, old clot signs


Why it’s important:

DVT can be dangerous because a clot can break off and travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). That’s why doctors take symptoms seriously.


Symptoms that usually prompt the test:

  • One-sided leg swelling
  • Pain or tenderness (often calf)
  • Warmth or redness
  • Leg feels tight or heavy


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