Venous Doppler

One reason to visit your primary care doctor annually is to check for any subtle changes that may indicate the potential for future health problems. Conditions such as slightly bulging veins or an irregular heartbeat may be early warning signs of heart disease. If your doctor notices these changes, one procedure in particular can gauge the condition of your blood flow: a painless, easy test called a venous Doppler. When you visit the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, NY, your doctor or specialist can give you the test. This multi-specialty practice speeds referrals, as specialists communicate with each other to determine the best diagnostic test or treatment for you. With a focus on prevention, Medex doctors give you the attention you need. Call for an appointment today.

What Is a Venous Doppler?

A non-invasive ultrasound test, a venous Doppler test is used to estimate the velocity of your blood flow. The test uses Doppler waves to measure the rate of change to the frequency. While traditional ultrasounds produce high-quality still images, a venous Doppler permits your doctor to actually visualize the movement of the blood in your veins.

Many doctors prefer venous Dopplers to more invasive alternatives like an angiography, which requires that a die be injected into your veins for x-ray viewing. The venous Doppler test helps your doctor determine an accurate diagnosis for such conditions as arterial damage. It also helps your doctor monitor any treatments to your veins and arteries that you may be undergoing.

The cardiologists at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, New York focus on the prevention of heart disease. Venous Doppler exams help them identify vascular symptoms, which can develop into severe heart disease if left undetected.

Why Is a Venous Doppler Test Done?

When your doctor has concerns about your blood flow, the first step may be to order a venous Doppler test for you. The test is useful for identifying problems or blockages in your veins and arteries. Your doctor can also diagnose several cardiovascular conditions, such as:

• Blood flow changes during pregnancy to the mother or fetus
• Post-surgical blood flow anomalies
• Inflamed leg veins, also known as superficial thrombophlebitis
• Tumors in your leg veins
• Swollen blood vessels in your hands and feet, a condition called thromboangiitis obliterans
• Changes in your heart condition that may precipitate the need for an electrocardiogram as well
• Peripheral artery disease, which is reduced blood circulation to your lower extremities
• Shrinking or hardening of your blood vessels
• Structural heart irregularities
• Damage to your blood vessels
• Blood clots in your leg veins, which I called deep vein thrombosis
• Swollen arteries or aneurysms
• The shrinking of an artery, called carotid artery stenosis when it occurs in your neck
• Congenital heart disease
• Heart valve defects
• Venous insufficiency, defined as poorly functioning valves in your leg veins, which can lead to the pooling of blood

A venous Doppler test allows your Medex doctor to identify many potentially dangerous vascular problems. If they’re identified early enough, your doctor can take measures to cure them or preventative steps to stop them from deteriorating further.

What Does a Leg Doppler Test Show?

The venous Doppler exam has two components, which function concurrently. The two technologies work together seamlessly to provide your doctor with the most information possible. The two parts of the test are:

1. The first part is a two-dimensional echo that generates images of your veins.
2. The second part is the Doppler waves, which create the sounds you hear and allows your doctor to examine the flow of blood through your veins.

Your doctor needs the information provided by the venous Doppler exam if you have any suspected vascular problems. Your doctor may schedule an exam if you’re experiencing any relevant symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Unusual swelling of your legs, feet or torso
• Fatigue
• The sudden appearance of varicose veins

What Should I Expect During a Venous Doppler Exam?

In preparation for the exam, you need to remove any clothing covering the part of your body that your doctor wants to see. You have to put on a hospital gown. Once you’re ready, you lay on an examination table, and a sonographer applies a clear gel to the target area of your skin to enhance the image quality. The sonographer then presses the transducer, a handheld wand that emits the Doppler waves, somewhat forcefully onto your skin.

Depending on the location of the test, you may feel some discomfort, but this is a totally painless test. The entire procedure is safe and non-invasive, with no known side effects from the ultrasound Doppler waves. The sonographer completes your exam in 45 to 60 minutes, after which you get to clean up and leave with no limitations or restrictions.

The images and data are sent to your physician, who interprets their results and explains their significance to you. At Medex, your primary care physician, sonographer, cardiologist and any other specialists you may need are under the same roof, so you don’t have to worry about shuffling around town to get everything done. Contact the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center today to enjoy the comfort and ease of a one-stop shop for all your medical needs.

We can help you find a doctor. Call (718) 275-8900

Licensed by the state of New York, Medex is an Article 28 diagnostic and treatment center. Our physicians provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages in the Forest Hills, Queens area, for over 15 years. Start receiving expert care now by calling or scheduling an appointment online with one of the skilled specialists.