![]() What you can expect How it worksĪ technician called a sonographer conducts the test with a small, hand-held device called a transducer. Unless your health care provider or the radiology lab provides special instructions, you shouldn't need to make any other preparations. Don't wear a necklace or dangling earrings.Wear a comfortable shirt with no collar or an open collar.Call the day before the exam to confirm the time and location of the exam.You can take the following steps to prepare for your appointment: Construct a 3D model of the carotid artery to improve the accuracy of a diagnosis.Monitor carotid artery blood flow during aortic heart valve surgery to assess the risk of a stroke.Predict coronary artery disease by measuring the thickness of the carotid artery and evaluating the characteristics of a plaque.Detect other carotid artery problems that may disrupt blood flow.Locate a collection of clotted blood, also called a hematoma, that may prevent blood flow.Evaluate the placement and effectiveness of a stent, a mesh tube used to improve blood flow through an artery.The procedure to remove plaques is called carotid endarterectomy. Evaluate blood flow through the artery after surgery to remove plaques.Your doctor may order a carotid ultrasound to: Unusual sound in the carotid arteries (bruit) detected using a stethoscope.Recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.Family history of stroke or heart disease.Your provider also may recommend a carotid ultrasound if you have a medical condition that increases the risk of a stroke, including: Your health care provider orders a carotid ultrasound if you have a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a mini-stroke, or other types of strokes. ![]() Early diagnosis and treatment of a narrowed carotid artery can decrease stroke risk. It can occur in the carotid artery of the neck as well as other arteries.Ī carotid ultrasound is done to look for for narrowed carotid arteries, which increase the risk of stroke.Ĭarotid arteries are usually narrowed by a buildup of plaque - made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances that circulate in the bloodstream. A blood clot often forms in arteries damaged by a buildup of plaques, known as atherosclerosis. The report will usually describe the severity of the stenosis (narrowing).An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot, known as a thrombus, blocks or plugs an artery leading to the brain. Clots in superficial veins is usually not serious, but may progress to clotting in the deeper veins.Īrterial assessment aims to determine the presence of narrowed blood vessels and does this by evaluating the speed and quality of flow within these vessels. Superficial veins are differentiated from deep veins. These images are stored electronically and can be printed out for viewing, but most of the information is gained by an experienced sonographer during the actual examination.Ī clot in a vein will prevent flow being seen in that vessel, and will make the vein solid, being non-compressible with the ultrasound transducer. ![]() Test results explainedĭoppler ultrasounds shows blood flow as blue or red spreading areas (colour flow). Symptoms of a DVT include calf or leg pain and swelling of the calf or ankle.Ī Doppler ultrasound is also capable of assessing arterial blood flow in the lower limbs, to look for areas of narrowing due to atherosclerosis or to assess the function of arterial grafts, in people with peripheral vascular disease (PVD).
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