Doppler Ultrasound of the Leg
Heart murmurs are sounds produced by the blood flowing through the heart. The sound of these murmurs varies from one person to another, and some patients report that they can hear the murmur while others do not hear it at all. To properly diagnose heart murmurs, doctors use a tool called the Doppler ultrasound of the leg to listen to blood flow in and around the heart . In other areas of the body, such as the abdominal cavity or arm veins.
What is Doppler?
At its core, Doppler is a phenomenon in which sound waves are reflected their source by moving tissue. Here’s how it works: The ultrasound probe emits pulses of high-frequency sound waves, which (like any other wave) travel at a certain speed.
The Importance of Listening to the Heart and Not Just Looking at it
Although it may be tempting to look at an EKG and think you can diagnose any abnormalities, it’s always best to listen with an Echocardiogram. At Essa Lab, we’ve been conducting tests for almost 50 years and have seen first-hand how some doctors and technicians rely solely on visual diagnostics; this is not necessarily as accurate or reliable as listening.
Applying the Probe onto the Patient’s Skin
A Doppler ultrasound is an important lab test used by doctors to assess blood flow and muscle function. The probe on your skin creates sound waves that bounce back when they hit fluid-filled organs.
These echoes are translated into visual images that can provide detailed information about how blood flows throughout your body. This process allows us to perform a Doppler ultrasound of your leg and evaluate how well it’s functioning in your body.
Proper Body Positioning
Before performing a Doppler ultrasound on your patient, you must get them into proper positioning. The best way to ensure their body is set up for optimal imaging is by having them place their right leg in front of their left leg so that both are touching. Your patient should place their hands comfortably behind their head and get as comfortable as possible.
Preparation for the Exam
A Doppler ultrasound exam is typically performed by an R.N., who has experience taking blood and vascular samples. If you are scheduled for a leg ultrasound, ask if someone from Essa Laboratory will be present during your exam since they will be responsible for taking samples from your leg once it’s been imaged.
Tuning Into Different Frequencies
Before you perform a Doppler ultrasound, it’s helpful to understand how blood flows through arteries and veins. Can do this with a tuning fork. Hold one tuning fork in your right hand and place another on your left leg.
What are B Mode, M Mode, and Color Flow?
B-mode ultrasound works in two dimensions, which means you can see a cross-sectional view of your organ. In B-mode, an ultrasound probe is held perpendicular to your skin surface and moved around.
This allows you or your technician to get a good look at an anatomical structure in its entirety. B-mode helps look at blood vessels and organs such as intestines and kidneys because they don’t move much during imaging.
How Does an Ultrasound Work?
Before you perform an ultrasound, it’s important to know how ultrasound works. Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to create images that appear on your screen. Your device converts these vibrations into electrical signals and digital information used by your computer or smartphone.
If you’re going to administer ultrasounds, you must understand how they work so you can troubleshoot if any problems arise during a session.
Common Applications and Procedure Errors
When performing a Doppler ultrasound of the leg, remember that it is not diagnostic and should not be used as such. To produce high-quality images and accurate findings, try to follow all safety procedures outlined by your lab.
If you or your technician encounter any difficulties during testing. Discontinue until you’ve been properly train or can get assistance from your supervisor. Also, if your findings do not make sense for what you see on screen, double-check everything before proceeding with the results.
