Blood circulates constantly in our body. It reaches every cell and supplies it with nutrients and oxygen. Sometimes, however, he faces obstacles in his way. Dopper ultrasound (Doppler examination) is helpful in detecting obstruction of the veins and arteries.

In transporting blood, the hardest work is done by the heart and blood vessels, which, like a network of roads and highways, wrap around our entire body. The arteries drain and the veins carry blood to the life-giving pump. On the other hand, the mesh of small capillaries placed between them carries blood to all tissues.

What does a Doppler ultrasound scan?

In a properly functioning organism, the circulatory system works flawlessly. It is worse, however, when some obstacles appear in the vessels, e.g. narrowing in the form of atherosclerotic plaque or blood clots, which can break off and block the artery at any moment (this can lead to e.g. a stroke,infarction heart or pulmonary embolism). In order to avoid such dramas, it is very important to detect even minor diseases of the arteries and veins as early as possible. It is possible thanks to the ultrasound examination using the so-called Doppler effect. InDoppler ultrasoundthe sound wave sent by a special head (or actually ultrasound, because its frequency exceeds 2.5 MHz) begins to travel through our body. It bounces off the moving medium (e.g. flowing blood) and returns to the probe. The head is connected by a cable to an ultrasound machine, which records changes in the frequency of the ultrasound wave reflected from flowing blood and presents it on the monitor.

Doppler ultrasound - diagnosis

The doctor who performs theDoppler examinationcan see where the blood flows slower and faster, where it can go back, for example, because venous valves do not close. The Doppler attachment for the ultrasound machine enables the measurement of blood flow through the vessels, which gives an idea of ​​the cross-section and capacity of the examined arteries and veins. This can detect arterial narrowing due to atherosclerosis, thrombosis and other blood vessel conditions in the abdomen, neck, arms and legs. However, it is not possible to examine vessels inside the skull, for example, because bone tissue is a barrier to ultrasound. In such cases, for example, resonance works bettermagnetic.

The test is also used to assess the blood supply to some organs and to detect neoplastic tumors, because most of them are heavily supplied with blood.

What does a Doppler ultrasound look like?

You don't need to prepare yourself for the Doppler. Only for the examination of the liver and renal arteries one should come on an empty stomach. There are no age restrictions (even for small children) and they can be repeated many times. It is also non-invasive and painless - so it does not require any anesthesia. Applying a cool gel to the skin prior to testing may be a discomfort. In the office, we take off our clothes just enough to reveal the part of the body being examined. We settle down comfortably on the bed. The doctor puts a special gel on the skin over the examined organ, which facilitates the penetration of the ultrasound wave and the movement of the head. Then he places the ultrasound machine head and walks it around, observing the image on the monitor screen. In modern ultrasound scanners, the image may be colored. Although the Doppler examination is similar to regular ultrasound, it is additionally accompanied by a sound effect - computer-processed noise of blood flowing through the vessels. For the doctor, disturbances in this noise are additional information and we get the result immediately. The doctor describes any changes, their location and appearance. Depending on the type of device, the description may include a diagram or a colored drawing.

A doppler is tested:

  • Carotid arteries. The device records the speed of blood flow in the arteries and allows you to determine the places where atherosclerotic changes have occurred.
  • Subclavian arteries. The blood supply to our hands depends on their patency. When the arteries are narrowed, our hands may become numb, for example.
  • Heart. Doppler examination is often combined with the so-called an echo of the heart. It is then invaluable in detecting valve defects.
  • Abdominal organs (liver, spleen, pancreas and kidneys). The test helps to detect, among others their damage, ischemia, inflammatory changes.
  • Sex organs. It allows you to detect some causes of erectile dysfunction. It reveals varicose veins, which may cause infertility.
  • Legs. The arteries are looking for strictures and blocked places that may cause poor blood supply to the feet. When examining the veins, attention is paid, inter alia, to the condition of the valves (their regurgitation is the cause of varicose veins).
  • Tumors. The blood flow in the lymph nodes is assessed, and liver tumors are differentiated in terms of their malignancy. Among the many thyroid nodules, there are those that require a biopsy.
Important

Christian Johann Doppler was an Austrian physicist who described the phenomenon of changing the frequency of a wave (e.g. sound or light) when the sourcethis wave approaches or moves away from the observer. This phenomenon is used in ultrasound scanners, which is why the adapter for an ordinary apparatus was called a Doppler adapter, and the examination itself was called Doppler ultrasound (or Doppler). Of course, in honor of the great physicist.

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