What is the ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities?

Ultrasound diagnosis has been used for a long time already in all branches of medicine. Technologies are constantly being improved, which allows us to evaluate more and more parameters. Modern ultrasound is a hardware procedure that demonstrates in real time the blood flow indicators in several types: sound, graphic, quantitative.

What is the ultrasound of the vessels of the legs

Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities is an informative method of research that allows to conduct early diagnosis, and thus to achieve more effective treatment of diseases of the veins and arteries to which a large number of our contemporaries are exposed. Detection of pathologies in the early stages makes it possible to stop the progression of vascular diseases and to avoid the serious and dangerous complications with which they are fraught.

Previously, the ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities made it possible to judge only the nature of the blood flow along the Doppler curve on the monitor. However, it is already possible to see veins and arteries (their diameter, wall condition), to do a spectral analysis of the blood flow in the vessels with duplex scanning, to observe and evaluate the blood flow in 3D mode with triplex.

Indications for ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities

Ultrasound examination of veins can be prescribed with the following complaints and conditions:

• Swelling and pain in the legs;

• Heaviness and fatigue of the feet;

• Shin cramps at night;

• Numbness and tingling in the limbs;

• Purple mesh;

• Changes in the color of the skin of the feet;

• Trophic ulcers;

• Restless legs syndrome (there is a need to move feet at night);

• Protruding veins on the lower limbs.

Ultrasound of arteries is indicated in the following cases:

• Pain in the legs when walking;

• Pain in the area of feet and fingers at night;

• Surgery on the arteries of the legs;

• With diabetes mellitus.

What diagnoses can be made with this method

With the help of ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, the following pathologies can be detected:

1. Varicose veins on the legs. Symptoms: swelling, bulging veins, itching, pain, heaviness in the legs, thickening and darkening of the skin of the legs. With varicose vein stasis is observed, failure of the valves, vasodilation.

2. Thrombosis of deep veins on the legs. With this disease in the blood vessels are formed blood clots that interfere with blood flow. During walking, there are pains in the ankle joint.

3. Obliterating arteriosclerosis of the vessels of the legs. The disease is characterized by a thickening of the walls of large arteries as a result of deposition of cholesterol on them. The main signs: fatigue and pain in the legs when walking up the stairs or uphill, cold extremities, hair growth on the legs, the appearance of ulcers.

4. Obliterating endarteritis of the vessels of the legs. It is an inflammation and constriction of small arteries. It is manifested by swelling, paleness of the skin and their dryness, chills, blueness and brittle nails, increased sweating of the feet.

How to conduct

During the procedure the patient lies. The doctor examines the control points using a sensor. In doing so, he examines both veins and arteries of different calibres. The uniformity of blood flow and its changes due to obstruction or narrowing of the lumen, the structure and course of the vessels, the probability of arterial compression, the severity of their spasms are assessed.

As venous diseases are more common, special attention is paid to their examination. In particular, the patency of deep veins on the legs and the consistency of the valves are evaluated. Approximately 30-50 minutes takes ultrasound of the vessels.

Price

The cost of the procedure may vary, depending on the level of the medical institution and the region. Ultrasound of the vessels of the upper and lower extremities costs 1000 rubles on average, ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and brain - about 1500 rubles.