Carotid Artery Duplex Scan

What’s a carotid artery duplex scan?

You’ve got two carotid arteries in your neck that carry blood out of your coronary heart to your mind. The take a look at might also take a look at the vertebrobasilar artery. This artery additionally brings blood to your mind.

Your healthcare supplier makes use of a tool referred to as a transducer to make photos of the arteries. The transducer sends out sound waves that bounce off your blood vessels. The sound waves are too high-pitched so that you can hear. The transducer then picks up the bounced sound waves and makes them into photos. A duplex scan signifies that the supplier makes use of two transducers. The second (Doppler) lets your healthcare supplier hear the sound waves the transducer sends out. Your healthcare supplier can hear how briskly blood is flowing by means of a blood vessel and through which course it’s flowing. No sound or a faint sound could imply that you’ve got a blockage within the stream.

Why may I would like a carotid artery duplex scan?

You could want this scan in case your healthcare supplier thinks you could have:

A blockage could also be attributable to a buildup of fatty materials (plaque), a blood clot (thrombus), or different substances.

Signs of blockage could embrace:

These signs could also be early warning indicators of a stroke.

You might also want this scan even in case you have no signs however your healthcare supplier hears an irregular sound (bruit) in an artery. This irregular sound could imply that you’ve got an issue with blood stream within the artery.

Listed here are different causes you could have this scan:

• To see how effectively blood is flowing after a process is completed on an artery. This may occasionally have been a process to open up an artery (angioplasty) or surgical procedure to bypass a blocked artery.

• To see how effectively blood is flowing earlier than you’ve got main coronary heart surgical procedure. This surgical procedure could also be bypass surgical procedure or surgical procedure to restore or exchange a coronary heart valve.

• To search out the place clotted blood has collected (hematoma)

• To search out out if an artery wall has break up (dissection). This may occasionally trigger a blockage or weaken the artery wall.

Your healthcare supplier could produce other causes to advocate a carotid artery duplex scan.

What are the dangers of a carotid artery duplex scan?

This scan has no threat from radiation. The transducer often causes no discomfort when put in your pores and skin.

You could have dangers relying in your particular well being situation. Make sure you speak together with your healthcare supplier about any issues you’ve got earlier than the scan.

Sure issues could make this scan much less correct. These embrace:

How do I prepare for a carotid artery duplex scan?

• Your healthcare supplier will clarify the process to you. Ask your healthcare supplier any questions you’ve got in regards to the process.

• You could be requested to signal a consent kind that offers permission to do the take a look at. Learn the shape rigorously and ask questions if something will not be clear.

• You need not cease consuming or consuming earlier than the take a look at. You additionally is not going to want medication that will help you loosen up (sedation).

• For those who smoke, you might have to cease for no less than 2 hours earlier than the take a look at. Smoking causes blood vessels to slender. You might also be requested to not drink or eat any meals with caffeine for about 2 hours earlier than the take a look at.

• Comply with some other directions your healthcare supplier offers you to prepare.

What occurs throughout a carotid artery duplex scan?

You could have this scan as an outpatient or as a part of your keep in a hospital. The best way the take a look at is completed could differ relying in your situation and your healthcare supplier’s practices.

Typically, a carotid artery duplex scan follows this course of:

1. You can be requested to take away any clothes, jewellery, or different objects that will get in the way in which of the scan.

2. You can be given a robe to put on.

3. You’ll lie on an examination desk together with your neck barely bent backward.

4. The technologist will put a transparent gel on the pores and skin over the world the place the carotid arteries are.

5. The Doppler transducer will likely be pressed towards the pores and skin and moved round over the world of the artery being checked out.

6. When blood stream is detected, you’ll hear a “whoosh, whoosh” sound. The probe will likely be moved round to take a look at blood stream in several areas of the artery. Either side of your neck will likely be checked out.

7. As soon as the take a look at is completed, the technologist will wipe off the gel.

The carotid artery duplex scan will not be painful. However you could have some discomfort from mendacity nonetheless in the course of the take a look at. The technologist will use all attainable consolation measures and end the process as shortly as attainable to reduce any discomfort.

What occurs after a carotid artery duplex scan?

You do not want any particular care after a carotid artery duplex scan. You could return to your ordinary eating regimen and actions except your healthcare supplier tells you in any other case.

Your healthcare supplier could offer you different directions, relying in your scenario.

Subsequent steps

Earlier than you conform to the take a look at or the process, be sure to know:

• The identify of the take a look at or process

• The rationale you’re having the take a look at or process

• What outcomes to anticipate and what they imply

• The dangers and advantages of the take a look at or process

• What the attainable unwanted effects or issues are

• When and the place you’re to have the take a look at or process

• Who will do the take a look at or process and what that particular person’s {qualifications} are

• What would occur when you didn’t have the take a look at or process

• Any various assessments or procedures to consider

• When and the way you’re going to get the outcomes

• Who to name after the take a look at or process in case you have questions or issues

• How a lot you’ll have to pay for the take a look at or process