Dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities. Where can I make the USDG, the testimony

Vascular diseases are the most common group of diseases among middle-aged and older people. Nevertheless, in recent years, young people are increasingly entering the risk zone, in whom changes in the vascular wall are observed at a young age.

"Rejuvenation" of vascular diseases is facilitated by such factors as:

• Malnutrition (especially if increased intake of protein and carbohydrates);
• Harmful effects on the environment;
• Hypodynamia;
• Smoking (especially if acquaintance with cigarettes begins in adolescence).

These factors contribute to the emergence of atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, hypertension. Each of these diseases first of all "beats" on vessels that lose elasticity, they accumulate atherosclerotic plaques that interfere with the blood flow. Both vessels and veins are affected. Most often, the lesion of the vessels of the lower extremities is diagnosed - varicose veins, etc.

An important factor in the diagnosis of vein diseases (including lower limbs) is Doppler. Dopplerography of the vessels of the lower limbs allows to identify the disease and start its treatment on time.

The complications of untreated vascular diseases include the occurrence of varicose or trophic ulcers, thrombophlebitis and bleeding from the nodes.

Types of UZDG

Dopplerography is divided into the following types:

1. Color dopplerography - shows the nature of blood circulation in the vessels. Depending on the direction of the blood flow, the picture on the monitor is highlighted in blue or red.
2. Energy dopplerography consists in determining the presence of blood flow in the vessels. If the blood flow is slow, a red color appears on the screen, and if its speed is normal - bright yellow.
3. Imulse-wave dopplerography makes it possible to assess the rate of circulation in the blood vessels.
4. Ultrasound duplex scanning combines B-mode and color Doppler.
5. Triplex Dopplerography includes B-mode, color and pulse-wave Doppler.

What is Dopplerography of Vessels?

Doppler legs ("ON CLINIC" on Tsvetnoy Boulevard suggests carrying out this procedure) is a study that enables real-time assessment of blood flow velocity. Doppler captures and transfers to the computer an image showing the presence of difficulties in the circulation.

Modern doppler combines the characteristics of ultrasound, allowing the doctor to see how and with what speed blood flows through the vessels.

UZGD of veins and arteries implies the simultaneous use of doppler and ultrasound. The first measures the characteristics of the blood flow through the vessels, and the second - shows the structure of the vessels themselves.

As a result of the study, the doctor determines the dimensionality of the blood flow in the vessels, the nature of its change, the degree of narrowing of the vessels, the cause of which is atherosclerotic plaques, thrombi or inflammation. Also, anomalies in the structure of the vessels are revealed.

The diagnosis includes deep veins of the lower leg, lower vena cava, iliac veins, femoral vein, large and small subcutaneous vein, popliteal vein.

How does the method work?

For dopplerography, the same ultrasound is used, which is also used for ultrasound. It is absolutely painless and harmless to the human body, and its work is inaudible to the human ear. However, it emits and receives ultrasound back a special sensor based on the Doppler effect. This effect consists in that the emitted ultrasound differs from the reflected (in this case, it is reflected from the blood cells). The sensor detects the difference between the emitted and reflected frequency.

The frequency of ultrasound may vary. The frequency of radiation is selected manually, depending on the depth of the vessels and the degree of detail. Thus, in the study of deep veins, low-frequency doppler is used.

Doing UZDG can often, as contraindications and complications, he practically does not have. However, we will consider this issue somewhat later, but for now we will find out what exactly determines ultrasound-dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities.

Attention! The study is equally informative for both small and large vessels and equally effectively evaluates both arterial and venous circulation.

What allows to determine the study?

UZDG of vessels allows to define:

1. Vascular lesions in the early stages, which do not yet cause symptoms.
2. Presence and degree of stenosis (stenosis - narrowing of the artery lumen).
3. The state of the walls of the vessels.
4. The presence of blood vessels, varicose veins or thrombosis.
5. Aneurysm (an increase in the diameter of the vessel due to changes in its walls).

What are the symptoms of ultrasound dopplerography?

1. Fatigue in the legs when walking and a sense of heaviness in them. After standing, there is relief.
2. Change the skin tone.
3. Hypersensitivity of the lower extremities to the cold.
4. Tingling of the skin in the legs.
5. The diagnosis is varicose veins.
6. Ulcers on the skin of the legs.
7. Swelling of the feet.
8. Nocturnal cramps in the calf muscles.
9. Extension of the veins and appearance of the knee on the shin.
10. Ranks on the legs do not respond well to healing.

With these symptoms, it is advisable to consult a specialist in order to timely identify a disease that is just beginning to develop, and start treatment on time.

Indications for an ultrasound study are diabetes mellitus, in which the risk of vascular damage is extremely high, smoking, hypertension, myocardial infarction or previous operations on the leg vessels in the anamnesis. It is also recommended to check the vessels of the legs, if the level of cholesterol is increased in the analysis of the blood.

What diseases does the procedure reveal?

UZDG of vessels reveals the following diseases:

- Obliterating arteriosclerosis. Disease of large vessels, diagnosed in people after forty years. It is manifested by fatigue and pain during walking, especially when climbing the stairs, feeling cold in the lower extremities, disturbing the growth of hair on them and even the formation of trophic ulcers in extremely neglected cases.

- Obliterating endarteritis is a disease in which the lumen of the vessels becomes inflamed and later narrows, until the blood flow stops completely. Symptoms are similar to atherosclerosis.

- Varicose veins stagnation of venous blood and enlargement of individual sections of veins. Patients are worried about swelling, especially in the evening, heaviness in the legs, itching. Swollen veins become visible to the naked eye. This disadvantage primarily worries women for cosmetic reasons.

- Thrombosis of the lower extremities. Thrombi occur in the deep veins. Thrombosis causes swelling, pain in the ankle during movement.

Preparation for USDG

No special preparation is required before the study. However, before any specific doppler the doctor can give his recommendations. For example, do not eat at night before the test, as it can worsen the quality of diagnosis. However, dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities does not require such preparation. Nevertheless, doctors still advise to refrain from smoking for several hours before the procedure, drinking the nervous system exciting drinks (tea, coffee, alcohol). On the day of diagnosis, do not take medication, especially apply warming and pain medications, and also need to exclude physical activity.

Conducting a study of the vessels of the legs

UZDG vessels of the lower extremities (in Lyubertsy you can find excellent specialists-phlebologists) is as follows.

The patient comes to the reception to a specialist, after removing the jewelry from his feet, if any. Clothing from the area under investigation is also removed. The doctor applies a gel on the skin, which makes it easier for the sensor to slide over the skin. When assessing the condition of the vessels of the legs, he can ask about the patient's complaints.

When the sensor contacts the skin, images of the area under investigation appear on the monitor. In the speakers of the device, the sound of blood flow is heard, which constantly changes. The study lasts from half an hour to an hour (an average of 45 minutes). Usually the procedure is done in a prone position. Be prepared for the fact that special pressure cuffs can be used.

Attention! If you wear compression underwear, before the procedure it needs to be removed.

After completing the diagnosis, the gel is wiped off the skin, and the patient receives the results of the study. Usually, the doctor articulates them during the procedure with an accessible language, and the client already gets a general idea of the state of his vessels. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to consult a doctor for a more detailed answer. In fact, most often carrying out dopplerography is not an independent decision - it is usually prescribed by a doctor based on certain symptoms.

Where to make UZDG?

Dopplerography of the vessels of the lower limbs is done both in private clinics and centers, and in public hospitals. Nevertheless, the choice of place must be approached consciously. So, if there is a question, where it is possible to make UZDG vessels, it is best to undergo examinations in those clinics that have a vascular department or specialize in diseases of the veins (phlebological centers). Research in them will be more qualitative and effective.

In addition, it is better if the diagnosis will be conducted by a doctor with the formation of a surgeon or phlebologist. Therefore, when choosing a clinic, be guided not by cost (where the price of the survey is higher, its quality is not always guaranteed better), namely by the qualification of the doctor.

"Miracle Doctor" is a multidisciplinary Moscow clinic. It is famous for its qualified specialists and high-quality diagnostic equipment. In the clinic "Miracle Doctor" you will be able to undergo dopplerography of the vessels of the legs, without doubting the quality of the results obtained. After all, sometimes the diagnosis is difficult or wrong due to the low quality of the Doppler. Therefore, doctors advise not to save and apply to qualified doctors.

Ultrasound dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities, the price of which varies in different clinics, of course, is not cheap. On average, the cost is from 700 to 3000 rubles.

What are the advantages of the study?

The main advantage of dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities is the detection of those pathologies of vessels that are not able to see the usual ultrasound.

But this is not all of its merits. In addition, ultrasound dopplerography of vessels:

• Painless;
• Non-invasive;
• Is safe;
• Informative.

Sometimes Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the legs is the decisive method of diagnosis, which informs the physician of the answers to all questions and allows to determine the method of treatment. However, in a number of cases, in addition to UZDG, the doctor prescribes additional studies-radiopaque angiography, computer or magnetic resonance angiography of blood vessels.

Explanation of research results

Dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities along the arteries makes it possible to identify certain problems immediately, during the course of the study. Usually the expert comments on the condition of the vessels, and after the procedure gives out a conclusion. People without medical education can not understand them. What do these figures mean?

1. The maximum and minimum blood flow rate along arteries (each of them is evaluated), recorded in systole and, respectively, in diastole - Vmax and Vmin.
2. The ratio of the maximum and minimum blood flow rates with respect to each other, also referred to as vascular resistance (RL).
3. PL - the index of pulsation, which more accurately shows changes in vascular clearance than RL.
4. TIM - thickness of the choroid - inner and middle. On the femoral artery, its norm is less than 1.1 mm. If the indicator exceeds 1.3 - this indicates an arteriosclerosis of the arteries. For the same reason, the index on the nearest part of the vessel grows by 50%.
5. LPI is normally 1.0 (or slightly more). Indicates the difference between systolic pressure of the tibia and humerus arteries.

The percentage of arterial stenosis, if any, is indicated, in the presence of plaques, they describe their localization, the degree of mobility, the approximate composition (of one substance or composed of several). Also, they reveal whether they are complicated or not, and what exactly they are complicated.

UZDG veins do not have these indicators. With the pathology of the veins, the state of the communication systems is determined (these veins provide contact between the deep and superficial veins), the operation of the valves, visualized and described the detected thrombi.

In any case, the results should be given to the doctor, who sent you to this survey.

Are ultrasonic waves dangerous?

Some doctors really hold the opinion that ultrasound waves in some way affect health. However, according to specialists of "ON CLINIC" on Tsvetnoy Boulevard (Moscow), this applies only to the health of the fetus when examining pregnant women. In addition, even this information is not confirmed and is at the level of assumptions. To adults, ultrasound is not capable of causing any harm, therefore the examination can be repeated several times within a very short period of time to diagnose the disease and control the prescribed treatment.

In general, dopplerography of the vessels of the lower limbs is a generally accessible and informative procedure, which is extremely important in the diagnosis of diseases of the veins and arteries. Be healthy!