Doppler Ultrasound

Ultrasound, Doppler

Why It Is Done

Doppler ultrasound is done to:

• Detect blood clots and blocked or narrowed blood vessels in almost any part of the body, especially in the neck, arms, and legs. Blocked or narrowed arteries of the neck can cause dizziness, loss of vision, paralysis, weakness, numbness, or other symptoms of a stroke. Blood clots in the deep veins of the leg can cause leg pain and swelling and can increase a person's risk of pulmonary embolism.
• Evaluate leg pain that may be caused by intermittent claudication, a condition caused by atherosclerosis of the lower extremities.
• Evaluate blood flow after a stroke or other condition that might be caused by a problem with blood flow. Evaluation of a stroke can be done through a technique called transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound.
• Evaluate for abnormal veins causing varicose veins or other problems.
• Map veins that may be used for blood vessel grafts. It also can evaluate the condition of grafts used to bypass blockage in an arm or leg.
• Determine the amount of blood flow to a transplanted kidney or liver.
• Monitor the flow of blood following blood vessel surgery.
• Determine the presence, amount, and location of arterial plaque. Plaque in the carotid arteries can reduce blood flow to the brain and may increase the risk of stroke.
• Guide treatment such as laser or radiofrequency ablation of abnormal veins.
• Look at blood flow through the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of a fetus to monitor fetal health. This may be done when Rh sensitization has occurred and the health of the fetus needs to be followed to help guide treatment decisions.

A transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) may be used in children with sickle cell disease to evaluate their risk of stroke. In adults, it can be used to evaluate blood flow and vessel spasms in the brain.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: January 17, 2007
Medical Review:	Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology
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