blockages to blood flow (such as clots).

In some instances, a clot can suddenly form in the arm due to compression of the vein at the inlet of the chest or in the left leg due to compression of the vein on the left side by an artery in the abdomen.ĭoppler ultrasound helps the doctor to see and evaluate: If a line is placed in a vein of the legs or arms, there is a much higher chance of developing a clot around it due to the smaller vessel size (especially in infants and young children).

evaluate a connection between an artery and a vein which can be seen in congenital vascular malformations (arteriovenous malformations or fistula) and in dialysis fistula.

In children, venous ultrasound is used to:

examine a blood vessel graft used for dialysis if it is not working as expected for example, the graft may be narrowed or blocked.

An example is using portions of vein from the leg to surgically bypass narrowed heart ( coronary) arteries.

map out the veins in the leg or arm so that pieces of vein may be removed and used to bypass a narrowed or blocked blood vessel.

Sonography can help locate the exact site of the vein and avoid complications, such as bleeding or damage to a nearby nerve or artery.

aid in guiding placement of a needle or catheter into a vein.

In people with a common condition called 'varicose veins', the valves that normally keep blood flowing back to the heart may be damaged, and venous ultrasound can help identify the damaged valves and abnormal blood flow.

determine the cause of long-standing leg swelling.

If the blood clot in the leg is found early enough, treatment can be started to prevent it from passing to the lung.Ī venous ultrasound study is also performed to: These clots may break off and pass into the lungs, where they can cause a dangerous condition called pulmonary embolism.

This condition is often referred to as deep vein thrombosis or DVT. The most common reason for a venous ultrasound exam is to search for blood clots, especially in the veins of the leg. What are some common uses of the procedure? It allows the doctor to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in the body. Venous ultrasound provides pictures of the veins throughout the body.Ī Doppler ultrasound study may be part of a venous ultrasound examination.ĭoppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates movement of materials in the body. The images can also show blood flowing through blood vessels. Because ultrasound captures images in real-time, it can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation ( x-rays). A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. Ultrasound imaging is also called sonography. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

Venous duplex