Testing for Abnormal Blood Flow with Doppler Ultrasound

Any abnormality in a person’s blood flow can lead to a number of health issues, many of which could be serious in nature. It is for this reason that blood flow tests are such an important part of medical diagnostic procedures. The most effective and accurate way to check blood flow is with the use of Doppler Ultrasound. A normal ultrasound uses sound waves to build images of the interior of the body, but it does not show blood flow. A Doppler Ultrasound works by using the Doppler effect – the measurement of soundwaves being reflected off moving objects; in this case the red blood cells.

Where It Is Used

Doppler ultrasound has a wide range of uses in medicine. The most common of these include:

• Checking the functioning of the heart. It is used in conjunction with an electrocardiogram (ECG) so that both electric signals that control heart movement and the resulting blood flow can be evaluated.
• Checking for damage to blood vessels and/or defects in the structure of the heart.
• Determining if there is any restriction in the blood circulation that could lead to conditions like deep vein thrombosis.
• Checking for any narrowing of blood vessels that restrict blood flow that may lead to other medical conditions, some of which can be critical.
• Checking the blood flow of pregnant women and their unborn babies. If there are any problems, the sooner they are identified and treatment begun, the greater the chances of effectively treating them.
• Monitoring blood circulation after surgery, especially in that part of the body where the procedure was done.

The Test Process

The procedure consists of these steps:

• You will lie down on a special platform with the part of the body being tested exposed
• A special gel is applied to the exposed area
• The doctor will move a transducer (a wand like object that sends out sound waves) over the gelled area
• The moving blood causes the tome of the sound waves to change
• The sound waves, before and after the change are recorded and then displayed as images on a monitor
• When the test is over, the gel will be wiped off the body and you may get off the platform
• A test will typically take between 30 to 60 minutes to complete
• A specialist will examine and analyze the images displayed on the monitor to determine if there are any problems with the blood flow

If any issues are found, a course of treatment may be prescribed or further medical tests may be required to further refine the diagnosis.

Doppler Ultrasound is a highly sophisticated procedure which offers the ability to check for and identify blood flow issues very early in their development. This enables treatment to begin quickly and be more effective. To be sure that the test is carried out the right way, it should be done at a hospital with specialized vascular medicine department where there are medical specialists who have been trained in the use of the equipment and analyzing the results and where any required treatment may be provided.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801