Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Thanks to the circulatory system, blood circulates continuously in the body. It performs a transport function and thanks to it, every cell of the body is supplied with oxygen and nutrients necessary for life. It is extremely important that this system works smoothly. There are times, however, when the blood cannot circulate freely around the body. This is because the veins and arteries that bring blood in and out of the heart are blocked. Doppler ultrasound is helpful in finding the cause of the obstruction.
Doppler ultrasound – examination
In a healthy and properly functioning organism, the circulatory system works efficiently, but any malfunction of this system can be very dangerous and pose a serious risk to life. Various obstructions can appear in the blood vessels, such as constriction of veins and arteries, and blood clots, which can result in a stroke or heart attack. In order to avoid these dangerous situations, it is important to detect any, even seemingly minor, diseases of the veins and arteries early.
W Doppler ultrasound an ultrasound wave is sent through a special head, which, while traversing the entire body of the patient, is reflected from the moving centers, in this case from the blood. He returns to the head connected to the ultrasound machine. It records changes in the frequency of the sent wave and the results survey presents on a computer screen. Executing physician study can observe the speed of blood flow and where it flows faster, slower, or even receding (e.g. due to venous valves not closing properly). This allows the efficiency and cross-section of the examined blood systems to be tested, which allows the detection of arterial narrowing (caused e.g. by atherosclerosis), thrombosis and other abnormalities in the work of blood vessels. Research can be performed where bone tissue does not interfere with the sending of ultrasound. It is impossible to examine blood vessels, e.g. inside the skull.
Doppler ultrasound – what does the examination look like?
During survey undress to reveal the area of the body being tested. The patient lies down on the bed to feel comfortable. The attending physician study applies a special gel to the exposed area, which facilitates the penetration of the ultrasound wave into the body and the movement of the head. The doctor puts the ultrasound head to the examined organ and moves it over the skin, while observing the image on the monitor. Research this may be similar to a regular ultrasound, however Doppler ultrasound in addition, it is accompanied by a computer-processed sound effect of the noise of blood flowing in arteries and veins. Disturbances in the emerging noise can be additional information about the condition of the circulatory system. Result survey is given to the patient at once, along with the doctor’s descriptions with all the lesions and their location. While Doppler ultrasound carotid arteries can be examined. The recorded image, together with the velocity of the flow of the body fluid, makes it possible to identify places with atherosclerotic changes. Research it also helps to detect damage, ischemia and inflammation in the organs of the abdominal cavity, e.g. in the liver or pancreas). Research it can also be performed in cases of erectile dysfunction. By examining the male sex organs, you can learn some of the causes of erectile dysfunction. Doppler ultrasound helps to diagnose varicose veins, one of the causes of infertility.
Doppler ultrasound – how to prepare?
Do survey by Doppler ultrasound you do not need to come in advance to prepare, however, when examining the liver and renal arteries on study you should report on an empty stomach. As for the age of the patients, study there are no age restrictions, Doppler ultrasound it is performed even in young children. Research can be repeated many times, depending on the needs and recommendations of the doctor. The whole examination is not unpleasant, it is non-invasive and does not cause pain, the only discomfort may be the feeling of cold gel, which is applied to the skin before research. Research there are no contraindications, Doppler ultrasound cannot be performed only in the event of mechanical damage to the skin (open wound) or its burns. Research it is short-term and the patient receives the results immediately after its completion.