THEDoppler echo or ultrasound-doppler is an examination that aims to observe the blood circulation in some body vessels. It combines an ultrasound, which makes it possible to visualize the vessels, with a “doppler” function, which makes it possible to observe the conditions of blood flow in these vessels.

It is an examination widely used in cardiology, and in imaging in general.

We speak of arterial Doppler ultrasound when we visualize the arteries specifically; venous echo-doppler when visualizing veins.

Doppler ultrasound is a simple, non-invasive and painless examination that allows you to estimate the state of health or function of blood vessels. It is therefore widely used, for many indications, among others:

• at the cardiac level to visualize possible coronary artery blockages or diagnose a heart disease (= cardiomyopathy)
• to estimate the functioning of heart valves (diagnosis of valve disease) or monitor patients with prosthetic valves
• in the lower limbs to check the state of circulation in the arteries and veins of the legs and feet and to detect possible phlebitis
• in the neck to visualize the carotid artery
• to study the vascularity of a tissue or organ
• in newborns or premature babies to check for a possible heart defect (diagnosis of congenital heart disease)
• before heart transplantation, etc.

The examination is painless and takes place like any ultrasound, using a probe placed on the skin in contact with the area to be explored. The doctor first coats the skin with a gel, which improves the quality of the image and allows the probe to be moved more easily.

The ultrasound waves (ultrasound) penetrate the body, “bounce” off the vessels and thus make it possible to visualize them.

When the ultrasound passes through the blood stream, the machine can study the “Doppler effect”, which makes it possible to determine the speed and direction of the flow, as well as its character, homogeneous or turbulent (in the event of an abnormality, for example ).

Doppler ultrasound can be used to detect abnormal blood flow in the blood vessels. Depending on the corresponding diagnosis, the doctor will suggest appropriate treatment or support, such as, for example, the fitting of a valve prosthesis in the event of a heart valve dysfunction.