Arterial and venous Doppler/duplex

Arterial and venous Doppler or duplex ultrasound is a gentle, painless examination of the blood vessels. As in pregnancy ultrasound, a probe with a little gel is placed on the skin. The examination uses ultrasound waves and no X-rays.

Many vessels can be shown clearly with this method. Both the vessel wall and the blood flow inside can be assessed:

Even small calcifications or deposits in the vessels can be detected – for example in the carotid arteries. Such changes can raise the risk of stroke and can be found early.

Veins, for example in the legs, can also be examined. Thromboses (blood clots) can be confirmed or excluded.

The examination usually takes only a few minutes, is not painful and generally needs no special preparation. It provides information on vessel health and helps to detect disease early and treat it in a targeted way.

• Duplex ultrasound: shows the vessels as an image on the monitor. Shape, course and possible changes of the vessel wall can be seen.
• Doppler ultrasound: additionally measures the speed and direction of blood flow. Narrowings or circulatory disorders can thereby be detected.