Doppler ultrasound

Doppler ultrasound is an advanced imaging technique that combines traditional ultrasound with the Doppler effect to assess blood flow in real time.

When is it recommended?

A doctor usually orders a Doppler ultrasound for his or her patient when:

• There are symptoms of abnormal circulation
• There is a high risk of stroke
• The patient has suffered a vascular injury previously
• The patient suffers from high blood pressure of unknown origin
• The patient is undergoing treatment for a disease that affects circulation

Where to have a Doppler ultrasound

Doppler ultrasound can be performed on various parts of the body to assess blood flow. The main areas where this technique is applied include:

• Heart: As part of an echocardiogram, to evaluate heart function, valves and detect possible problems.
• Neck: To examine the carotid arteries and detect blockages that may increase the risk of stroke.
• Brain: To evaluate cerebral blood circulation.
• Abdomen: To examine blood flow in abdominal organs such as the liver, kidneys and detect possible aneurysms.
• Arms and legs: To evaluate circulation in the extremities and detect problems such as thrombosis or venous insufficiency.
• In women: Transvaginal ultrasound to examine the uterus and ovaries.
• In men: Transrectal ultrasound to evaluate the prostate.
• Esophagus: To obtain clear images of the heart using a transesophageal echocardiogram.
• Blood vessels in general: To evaluate arteries and veins in any part of the body, detecting narrowing, blockages or malformations.
• Fetus: During pregnancy, to monitor fetal blood flow and assess risk of preeclampsia.

Doppler ultrasound is a versatile technique that allows examination of blood flow in virtually any part of the body where there are significant blood vessels.

Results and report

Doppler ultrasound results are provided immediately. The printed report typically includes:

• Assessment of blood vessel structure
• Measurement of blood flow velocity and direction
• Identification of vascular obstructions or abnormalities
• Recommendations for follow-up or treatment
• Images of interest, captured during the session.

We do not normally send the video of the session, because it is usually a heavy video and slow to copy. But if it is of interest, we can send it by email or copy it to a pendrive.

Specialist

• Dr. José Quirante, interventional radiologist

Prices

• A private Doppler ultrasound costs €100

Frequently asked questions