Doppler Ultrasonography Health Article

Preparation

There is no special preparation needed for this test, other than removing clothing and jewelry covering the area to be imaged.

Aftercare

No special aftercare is necessary.

Results

A Doppler ultrasonography test that shows no restricted blood flow or other abnormalities is a normal finding.

Findings indicating restricted blood flow or other cardiovascular abnormalities are abnormal results. Disrupted or obstructed blood flow through the carotid artery or other neck arteries may indicate the person is at risk of having a stroke. Narrowed arterial flow or clots in the legs may also be imaged. Abnormal findings are then used to plan further diagnostic tests and/or treatment.

Health care team roles

Doppler ultrasonography is performed by an ultrasonographer with special training in ultrasound techniques, particularly cardiac and vascular imaging. The sonographer should be a registered vascular technologist or a registered cardiac sonographer. A radiologist, cardiologist, or other physician experienced in ultrasound imaging techniques interprets the ultrasound examination results. During some examinations, the sonographer may print out images and consult with the radiologist or cardiologist; alternatively the radiologist or cardiologist may perform some of the scanning.

KEY TERMS

Angiography—During cardiac catheterization, the procedure of acquiring x rays of the heart and coronary arteries after injection of a radiopaque substance (often referred to as a dye or contrast agent).

Catheter—A flexible or preshaped curved tube, usually made of plastic, used to evacuate or inject fluids into the body. In cardiac catheterization, a long, fine catheter is inserted through a blood vessel into the chambers of the heart.

Doppler imaging—A mode of ultrasound imaging that uses the physics principle of the Doppler effect (sound frequency waves shift relative to the observer, allowing velocity measurement) to produce color or gray-scale images of blood flow velocity and heart motion.

Endoscopy—A minimally invasive procedure that uses a scope with a camera on the end to examine the inside of a body cavity or organ.

Grafting—Implantation of a biological or artificial portion of a blood vessel to repair the vessel and restore flow. Doppler ultrasound is used to evaluate the patency of the grafted area.

Noninvasive—Pertaining to a diagnostic procedure or treatment that does not require the skin to be broken or a body cavity to be entered.

Transducer—A device that converts electrical signals into ultrasound waves and ultrasound waves back into electrical impulses, also called a probe.

Ultrasound—Sound waves at high frequencies beyond the level of human hearing; frequencies of approximately 2 to 10 megahertz are often used for diagnostic imaging.

BOOKS

Whittingham, T.A. "Diagnostic Ultrasound." In Physics for Diagnostic Radiology. 2nd ed. Edited by P.P. Dendy, and B. Heaton. Philadelphia: Institute of Physics Publishing, 1999. pp.330-375.

PERIODICALS

Kosoff, George. "Basic Physics and Imaging Characteristics of Ultrasound." World Journal of Surgery 24 (February 2000):134-142.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. 14750 Sweitzer Lane, Suite 100, Laurel, MD 20707-5906. (301) 498-4100. <http://www.aium.org>.

American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. 600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20852-1150.(800) 541-9754. <http://www.ardms.org>.

American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). 15000 Central Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-2778. (800) 444-2778. <http://www.asrt.org>.

Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 12770 Coit Road, Suite 708, Dallas, TX 75251-1319. (972) 239-7367. <http://www.sdms.org>.

Society of Vascular Technology. 4601 Presidents Drive, Suite 260, Lanham, MD 20706. (301) 459-7550. <http://www.svtnet.org>.

OTHER

"New Endoscopic Doppler Device Combines Endoscopy and Doppler Ultrasound." <http://www.neuro.com/pr020100.htm>.

"Vascular Ultrasound Imaging." <http://www.radiologyinfo.org/content/ultrasound-vascular.htm>.

Jennifer E. Sisk, M.A.