Doppler Ultrasound

Ultrasound, Doppler

Why It Is Done

Doppler ultrasound is done to:

• Detect blood clots and blocked or narrowed blood vessels in almost any part of the body, especially in the neck, arms, and legs. Blocked or narrowed arteries of the neck can cause dizziness, loss of vision, paralysis, weakness, numbness, or other symptoms of a stroke. Blood clots in the deep veins of the leg can cause leg pain and swelling and can increase a person's risk of pulmonary embolism.
• Evaluate leg pain that may be caused by intermittent claudication, a condition caused by atherosclerosis of the lower extremities.
• Evaluate blood flow after a stroke or other condition that might be caused by a problem with blood flow. Evaluation of a stroke can be done through a technique called transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound.
• Evaluate abnormal veins causing varicose veins or other problems.
• Map veins that may be used for blood vessel grafts. It also can evaluate the condition of grafts used to bypass blockage in an arm or leg.
• Find out the amount of blood flow to a transplanted kidney or liver.
• Monitor the flow of blood following blood vessel surgery.
• Find out the presence, amount, and location of arterial plaque. Plaque in the carotid arteries can reduce blood flow to the brain and may increase the risk of stroke.
• Guide treatment such as laser or radiofrequency ablation of abnormal veins.
• Check the health of a fetus. Blood flow in the umbilical cord, through the placenta, or in the heart and brain of the fetus may be checked. This test can show if the fetus is getting enough oxygen and nutrients. Doppler ultrasound may be used to guide decisions during pregnancy when:
  • The fetus is smaller than normal for his or her gestational age (fetal growth restriction). Blood flow through the large blood vessel in the umbilical cord (the umbilical artery) can be looked at.
  • Rh sensitization has occurred. Blood flow through a blood vessel in the brain (the middle cerebral artery, or MCA) can be used to monitor fetal health.
  • The mother has other problems, such as preeclampsia or sickle cell disease.

A transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) may be used in children with sickle cell disease to evaluate their risk of stroke. In adults, TCD can be used to evaluate blood flow and vessel spasms in the brain.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: January 5, 2009
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
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