Understanding Doppler Ultrasound: A Comprehensive Guide

Pathology | by Dr. Susruta Sen | Published on 21/06/2023

Did you know that to check blood flow, healthcare professionals often involve using a doppler test? Well, you might not be the only one, not everyone is aware of the term. Doctors involve the use of a doppler ultrasound for checking blood flow and determine if there is any blockage, leakage or narrowing of a blood vessel. The test allows the doctors to understand whether the blood is flowing through the arteries and veins correctly or not. 

In this blog, we will include the discussion on doppler ultrasound and everything that’s related to it. But before we move on with the discussion, it is important for you to understand that if your doctor has recommended you for doppler ultrasound and you are looking for a healthcare service, then the Calcutta Medical Research Institute is your one-stop solution. It is one of the best multispeciality hospitals you can ever find in Kolkata. Also, kindly note that the write-up is meant for sharing information only and doesn’t rule out consulting the doctor.

What is a doppler test?

A doppler test involves the use of sound waves for producing blood moving images through the circulatory system. The pictures help the doctor in identifying the direction and blood flow speed through your arteries and veins. The doppler scan also reflects blood flowing through your heart. The outcomes from a doppler scan benefits healthcare experts to detect issues with the blood vessels and heart.

What are the types of doppler scan?

Ultrasound, also referred to as sonography or ultrasonography is a noninvasive imaging procedure. A traditional ultrasound produces pictures, but doesn’t reflect the blood flow like a doppler scan. There are various types of doppler ultrasound which involves:

• Colour doppler: It depicts the changes of sound waves into diverse colours to show the blood flow direction. 
• Spectral doppler: It is a graphical illustration of the blood flow over time. 
• Duplex ultrasound: It involves traditional ultrasound images with a doppler test. It is useful in checking the blood vessels width and benefits in showing blockages. 
• Power doppler: This doppler scan is useful in showing the blood flow presence and is usable for showing blood flow that is slow. It doesn’t represent the blood flow direction. 
• Transcranial doppler ultrasound: It is a test which involves examining the blood flow in the brain to identify stokes or subarachnoid haemorrhages.

Who might need a doppler ultrasound?

Healthcare expert might recommend a doppler ultrasound for:

• Diagnosing disorders affecting blood vessels in the abdomen, legs, or arms.
• Checking the blood flow after surgery or obtaining certain treatments. 
• Assessing the blood flow through a doppler scan in pregnancy.

What conditions can be diagnosed with a doppler test?

Healthcare professionals involve using a doppler scan for diagnosing various conditions such as:

• Blood clots which include deep vein thrombosis 
• Injuries linked to blood vessels 
• Chronic venous insufficiency 
• Narrowed arteries or veins 
• Assessing blood supply to a transplant organ such as pancreas, liver, or kidney 
• Hypertension causes like renal vascular 
• Blood vessels tumour

How can you prepare for a doppler ultrasound?

When it comes to preparing for a doppler ultrasound, it entirely depends on the ultrasound type. It is often recommended that: 

• The patient need to eat or drink few hours before the test 
• It is important to quit smoking and not use any nicotine products around two hours before the test. Doctors essentially recommend this as nicotine leads to narrowing of blood vessels and can influence the test results.

What happens during a doppler test?

A doppler ultrasound is performed by a sonographer who is an expert in ultrasound imaging technology which takes around thirty to sixty minutes. The patient is asked to lie on his/her back on the table depending on the test reason. Here is what happens during a doppler scan:

• The sonographer will initiate the test by applying a gel to the patient’s skin. It will assist the sonographer glide a small probe over the skin and help sound waves travel. 
• The transducer will send the sound waves that are painless through the patient’s skin into the body and these waves are of high frequency. 
• The sound waves involve reflecting off the blood cells which are moving and leads to sound waves pitching for change. The patient might hear a whooshing sound during a doppler scan. 
• The transducer helps in detecting sound wave changes. 
• The ultrasound machine involves recording the changes of sound waves and converting them into pictures or graphs for the test performer to review. 
• Lastly, the sonographer ends the test by cleaning the gel from the patient’s skin. 

How do you get doppler ultrasound test results?

The healthcare provider or a radiologist, a medical professional specialising in clinical imaging will initiate reviewing the test results and might take around a week to get the test results. There might be a requirement of more tests depending on the results. The health condition will determine the need for tests the patient requires further.

A doppler ultrasound is performed by a sonographer who is an expert in ultrasound imaging technology which takes around thirty to sixty minutes. The patient is asked to lie on his/her back on the table depending on the test reason. Here is what happens during a doppler scan:

• The sonographer will initiate the test by applying a gel to the patient’s skin. It will assist the sonographer glide a small probe over the skin and help sound waves travel. 
• The transducer will send the sound waves that are painless through the patient’s skin into the body and these waves are of high frequency. 
• The sound waves involve reflecting off the blood cells which are moving and leads to sound waves pitching for change. The patient might hear a whooshing sound during a doppler scan. 
• The transducer helps in detecting sound wave changes. 
• The ultrasound machine involves recording the changes of sound waves and converting them into pictures or graphs for the test performer to review. 
• Lastly, the sonographer ends the test by cleaning the gel from the patient’s skin. 

How do you get doppler ultrasound test results?

The healthcare provider or a radiologist, a medical professional specialising in clinical imaging will initiate reviewing the test results and might take around a week to get the test results. There might be a requirement of more tests depending on the results. The health condition will determine the need for tests the patient requires further.

Conclusion

A doppler scan is a painless and safe way for healthcare experts to evaluate the blood vessels health and check for issues related to cardiovascular. A doppler test is useful in providing information about blood flow through the circulatory system. The test results will help the provider for diagnosing disease, and evaluating the treatment effectiveness. If you have been recommended for a doppler test, then make sure to consult healthcare professionals like The Calcutta Medical Research Institute, one of the best multispeciality hospitals in Kolkata offering the most exceptional patient care and healthcare services.

FAQs

What is the doppler test used for?

A doppler test is used for detecting the blood flow and helps in managing the conditions like peripheral arterial disease.

Can we find gender in the doppler scan?

Yes, you can find gender in the doppler scan but the accuracy is in male than females.

Is the Colour doppler test safe?

Yes, the colour doppler test is one of the safest and convenient available test.