Vascular - Vascular Duplex Ultrasound Procedure

Why is duplex ultrasound important?

Duplex scanning of the veins and/or arteries provides a very detailed assessment of the major blood vessels in the body, allowing your consultant to decide what treatment is most appropriate for you.

The duplex ultrasound machine is a large instrument which sends and receives sound waves to and from the blood vessels (arteries and veins), allowing a detailed image to form. This allows the technologist to identify any narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels.

What does the procedure involve?

The procedure takes between 20 and 60 minutes, depending on which part of your body is being scanned. Usually, you will be asked to remove some clothing from the area which is to be assessed. Some assessments may require you to stand upright for a short time, whilst others will be carried out with you lying down. The blood pressure on your ankles and arm may be monitored during the procedure. The procedure may be noisy, but this is perfectly normal. There are no injections or anaesthetics involved. Hypoallergenic gel, safe even for the most sensitive skin, will be applied to your skin to help the probe pick up the signals from your blood vessels.

Who will perform the procedure?

A qualified vascular technologist, specially trained to perform ultrasound scans of the blood vessels will undertake the procedure. Everything will be explained to you before your scan, and the results of the test will be sent to your hospital consultant. You will then be contacted by either your hospital consultant or your GP, who will discuss the results with you.

How can I help?

• Wear loose fitting clothing which is easy to remove
• Remove jewellery such as necklaces and bracelets
• Keep as still as possible during the procedure
• Follow any instructions given by your technologist
• Allow plenty of time before your appointment to find the department and for car parking. This is very important because the ultrasound unit is heavily used and if you are late, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to complete your scan that day
• If you have dressings/bandages on your legs, please inform the scan department prior to your appointment. Your dressings/ bandages may need to be removed during the scan. You will therefore need to arrange for the district nurses to reapply them later that day

After the procedure

Once the scan is completed you can get dressed and go home. The results of your scan will help your consultant decide which type of treatment you may need. Your consultant or GP will discuss this with you at a later date.

What if I have other questions?

If you have any concerns about the procedure, please contact the number on your appointment letter or ring 0161 624 0420 and ask for the vascular ultrasound department.