Venous Ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses sound waves to create images of blood vessels and other tissues within the body. Venous ultrasounds Scottsdale can be used to identify and treat various medical conditions, including varicose veins, spider veins and vein diseases.
The blood in your veins sends oxygen, nutrients, and other materials to your organs and tissues. The walls of these blood vessels are made up of valves that allow blood to flow easily in one direction but block it from flowing back in the opposite direction. If you have a condition that causes these valves to close too much or too little, you may develop a varicose vein or spider vein.
How is venous ultrasound performed?
During Venous Ultrasound, the patient will lie comfortably on a table in an exam room with their legs outstretched and feet facing up towards the ceiling. The doctor will place a special probe over each leg, which will emit sound waves that are detected by a device called a transducer. The transducer converts these acoustic signals into real-time voltage readings that can be displayed on a computer screen. This process produces images of the veins and lymphatic vessels in the legs similar to those produced by X-rays or other imaging studies.
What is the importance of Venous Ultrasound?
It helps detect the following conditions;
Varicose veins: Varicose veins are enlarged or bulging veins often seen as blue lines on an ultrasound image, especially if they are on one side of your lower leg or foot. They can also cause pain in your calf muscles when standing for long periods.
Spider veins: These are small red streaks seen on an ultrasound image that look like tiny spiders crawling up your legs when you move them up or down quickly after sitting still for a while. They usually disappear on their own over time without treatment but can be treated with compression socks.
Detecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT): DVT involves blood clots forming in the deep veins of the leg, usually below the knee. DVT occurs when there is too much blood flow in these vessels, which leads to blockages and eventual clot formation. If this clot travels through the bloodstream, it may travel to other parts of your body, where it can cause serious complications, including pulmonary embolism (PE), stroke, and heart attack. DVT symptoms include swelling in one leg, pain or tenderness in one leg going down the back of your calf, warmth around the affected area, and redness at the affected site. Venous Ultrasound can help detect this problem.
Blood clots (thrombophlebitis): The primary purpose of Venous Ultrasound is to detect Blood clots (thrombophlebitis). A thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein. The formation of a blood clot can be due to an injury, such as a deep wound or surgery. If you have thrombosis, it can lead to serious complications such as pulmonary embolism, which is when the blockage causes damage to your lungs.
Thrombosis may be caused by an underlying condition or medication that you are taking. You may not see symptoms of thrombosis until the blood clot has formed, but this can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Venous Ultrasounds are one of the most commonly performed imaging techniques and can be used to perform a variety of different diagnostic procedures. The main advantage of Venous Ultrasound is that it is a non-invasive procedure, meaning that no ionizing radiation is involved. This makes it ideal for patients who may be uncomfortable having their veins opened or whose veins are difficult to access through traditional methods. If you would like to undergo this procedure, contact Scottsdale Vascular Clinic professionals.
