Cardiovascular Ultrasound Department

Complete Lower Arterial Duplex Ultrasound(PV39)

What is duplex (Doppler) ultrasound used for?

Doppler or Duplex ultrasound uses harmless sound waves to evaluate and create pictures of blood flow inside your blood vessels. These vessels carry blood to and from major organs of the body. This test can find narrow or blocked arteries and veins due to: an abnormality pressing on them, calcification, or blood clots.

Duplex or Doppler ultrasound can help your healthcare provider find problems with blood vessels. These problems may include:

• Carotid occlusive disease, can lead to stroke. 
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD), can lead to arm or leg pain. 
• Aneurysm, a ballooning out of a blood vessel wall.
• Dissection, a tear in the layers of a blood vessel wall.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the deep veins of the arms and legs.
• Varicose veins, swollen, twisted veins that can be seen under the skin’s surface.
• Abnormal blood flow, an abnormal increase or decrease of blood flow to an area of your body. 

Why did my doctor order this test?

This test will identify if you have peripheral arterial disease in your legs. This exam is 3 tests in 1 and you will be in the same room with the same sonographer the whole time. The test will start with an Ankle Brachial Index and then ultrasound imaging of your aorta and leg arteries will follow if indicated.

How do I get ready for an ultrasound?

• You will need to be NPO (nothing by mouth) for 8 hours prior to this test. 
• No food or liquids.
• No smoking, no tobacco, or gum chewing.
• Please take all your medication as normal with a small amount of water. 
• If you are diabetic you may want to bring a snack.
• The test takes approximately 120 minutes (2 hours).
• Allow 15 minutes to check in prior to the exam.
• When you arrive, you may be asked to change into a gown.

Ankle Brachial Index: Exam

This test is done by measuring blood pressuresat the anklesand in the arms while a person is at rest. Some people also do an exercisetest. In this case, the blood pressure measurements are repeated at both ankles and one arm after a few minutes of walking on a treadmill.

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) result is used to predict the severity of peripheral arterial disease(PAD). A slight drop in your ABI with exercisemeans that you probably have PAD.  This drop may be important because PAD can be linked to a higher risk of heart attackor stroke.

Ankle Brachial Index: Results

The ABI result can help diagnose peripheral arterial disease (PAD).  A lower ABI means you might have PAD. A slight drop in the ABI with exercise, even if you have a normal ABI at rest, means that you probably have PAD.

What happens during an ultrasound? 

• You will lie on an exam table.
• Non-greasy gel will be applied to your skin.
• The sonographer will then use a hand-held transducer (probe) to image your aorta through your belly and the arteries in your legs.

After your test

• Before leaving, you may need to wait briefly while your images are being reviewed.

• You can return to normal activities unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.
• Your healthcare provider will let you know when the test results are ready.