Ultrasound duplex scanning of the vessels of the head and neck. Are there any contraindications

What is duplex scanning of the vessels of the head and neck? What is this procedure for? What makes it possible to determine? How to behave after it? We will try to answer these and other questions in more detail.

Duplex and triplex of vessels, ultrasonic angioscanning, simply UZDAS are one and the same. This is a method that uses ultrasound. It allows you to see the vessels in a two-dimensional projection. Ultrasound is reflected from the red blood cells and thereby forms an image of the vessels. So each vessel and its surrounding tissues are visualized. At the same time, a unique opportunity appears to assess their condition, namely, to consider the condition of the walls, to assess the speed of blood flow and its nature. This is the most modern method for diagnosing vascular pathology, which is non-invasive. When scanning, the diagnostician can examine the vascular system in detail, assess whether they are narrowed. Also, at the same time, he will see if there are any blockages or areas where the vessels expand, but at the same time become thinner. He may notice the presence of plaques (atherosclerotic), blood clots, disturbances in the blood flow.

Such a study is called doppler. This is the name of the scientist who invented this unique method. A very effective method for studying blood flow is triplex scanning of the vessels of the neck and brain. In this case, sound waves with a high frequency range are used. Human hearing is absolutely immune to them. The ultrasonic sensor transmits information to a powerful computer, which converts it into a dynamic two-dimensional image. The monitor screen shows the state of the patient's vessels in the smallest detail. This technology greatly facilitates the work of diagnosticians.

The forerunner of duplex (triplex) was dopplerography. This technique used to be very popular. But her options were limited. She helped to establish only the speed of blood flow and its direction. At the same time, it was impossible to assess changes in the structure of the walls and lumen of the vessels. Accordingly, the duplex has such possibilities.

Ultrasound has a unique property to pass through the tissues of our body. It can also bounce off cells that float around in our bloodstream. In this case, a clear image of the vessel is sent to the screen. So the doctor can assess the degree of its narrowing and the characteristics of the patency.

Should I be afraid of ultrasonic waves?

Some patients are concerned about whether the ultrasound waves will harm them. Let's calm down. A number of studies have not revealed the harmful effects of ultrasound on human organs and tissues. Note that we are talking about adult patients. Scanning with duplex or triplex is one of the safest studies of the vessels of the brain and neck. At the same time, it is important to understand that the harm from vascular diseases is much greater. If a duplex examination is required for the correct diagnosis, then you should not be afraid of it. By the way, if it is necessary for diagnosis, then this study can be repeated several times in a fairly short time.

Where can duplex be used?

During duplex scanning, the diagnostician finds out the following information:

What is the degree of elasticity of blood vessels
What is the condition of the inner shell?
Is the integrity of the walls of blood vessels broken?
Are there any formations inside the veins or arteries of the head and neck
What is the anatomy of the vessels of a particular patient
Is there any abnormal curvature
Does a small vessel depart in an uncharacteristic place
Are there any changes in the course of the vein or artery

Dopplerography allows you to make a diagnosis in such diseases:

Congenital anomalies in the branching, course or arrangement of blood vessels
Atherosclerosis
Injury to a vein or artery
Inflammation of capillaries and artery walls
Angiopathy (toxic, hypertensive or diabetic)
Vegetative-vascular dystonia
encephalopathy

By performing an ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head, you can find out:

why strokes or transient ischemic attacks recur
how specific arteries are affected
how vascular patency is impaired due to smoking, diabetes or atherosclerosis

When the doctor receives a complete picture of the state of the intracranial veins and arteries, he can most objectively prescribe complex treatment, as well as control how effective it is. Also, such a study will help predict how the disease will behave in the future.

The study of blood vessels using a duplex is prescribed in a number of conditions and diseases:

Endarteritis, atherosclerosis, diabetic angiopathy of the leg vessels
Atherosclerosis of the visceral branches of the abdominal aorta (these vessels supply blood to the spleen, liver, stomach, kidneys)
Aneurysm in the abdominal aorta, as well as other large vessels
Varicose veins in the legs
Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels)
Vascular disease of the neck and brain
When monitoring the operations performed on various vessels
With post-thrombophlebitic disease
With the syndrome of compression (external compression) of the vessel
Screening study (examination to identify asymptomatic forms of the disease)
Phlebothrombosis and thrombophlebitis of veins (limbs)
Thrombosis of vessels in the intestine
Vascular injury and its consequences

Signs of vascular pathology

Note! If you often experience dizziness, headache, tinnitus, blurred vision, loss of consciousness, unsteady gait, or impaired coordination of movements, then these may be symptoms of vascular disease. Also, violation of understanding or reproduction of speech, weakness and numbness of the arms and legs should alert.

The following indicators may indicate that the condition of the vessels requires medical intervention:

Thickening of the walls of blood vessels
The echogenicity is changed, and the artery is narrowed by less than 20%. This is indicative of arteriosclerosis.
With vasculitis, the vascular wall and its echogenicity change, the differentiation of layers in the wall is disturbed
With plaques, a hypoechoic image appears with a thin rim or echogenicity may decrease.

Treatment is mandatory prescribed for stenosis of any cerebral artery (more than 50%).

What is better to choose - triplex scanning or duplex?

If you cannot decide which method to prefer, then we clarify that there is not much difference between them. Both are about equally informative. The triplex has one advantage - it will help to assess the condition of the vessels in different three modes of ultrasound. Duplex will allow you to scan the vessels in two types of mode. The quality of the study is primarily affected by the state of the equipment, as well as the experience of the doctor, and not the technique itself.

What is better to examine - veins or arteries?

In fact, only a specialist can adequately determine which vessels need to be examined for a particular patient. It is important to get a comprehensive consultation with a surgeon (vascular, angiosurgeon). Only he will be able to tell you exactly what procedures and to what extent you need for diagnosis. To save money, time and nerves, pay special attention to the initial examination by a specialist. Duplex or triplex scanning is not required for every patient, even with obvious vascular diseases. There are other diagnostic methods.

Do I need to prepare before a vascular scan?

Specialists most often prescribe duplex or triplex scanning for problems with the vessels of the neck or head. In this case, the arteries of the neck and head, as well as veins or arteries in the lower extremities, are examined. Whatever veins or arteries are examined, this procedure does not require any preliminary preparation.

But if a scan of the vessels of the small pelvis and abdominal cavity is performed, in particular in patients who suffer from obesity, a diet will be required. It usually lasts no more than three days. In this case, the patient will have to exclude from his diet milk, meat, cabbage, black bread, as well as plant products that are rich in fiber. Also, for a more accurate diagnosis, drugs may be prescribed that will prevent excessive formation of gases in the intestines. Espumizan is most often used.

What happens in the body during a scan?

Some patients who are scheduled for duplex scanning are afraid that this procedure will give them any discomfort. We hasten to reassure you. This procedure is completely painless and cannot adversely affect the body. Therefore, neither general nor local anesthesia is required.

Another question that interests many patients is in what position the scan will be performed. The posture will depend on which part of the body you want to examine. Scanning can be done sitting, standing or lying down. A special gel is applied to the patient's skin, and then a sensor is installed. The main function of the gel is to improve the conductivity between the body and the ultrasound signal transducer. To get a better image, the doctor may ask his patient to temporarily hold his breath, change the position of his body, or perform some other simple manipulations. Scanning takes an average of 30 to 40 minutes. At the same time, patients experience almost no discomfort.

How to behave after a duplex or triplex scan?

Once a patient undergoes one of these scans, they do not need to do anything else. You can safely return to your usual activities. There can be no restrictions after this simple procedure.

Can there be complications?

Practice has shown that there are practically no complications after scanning. This procedure is absolutely safe for adult patients. Very rarely, minor complications in well-being were observed.

Can duplex or triplex vascular scanning be considered accurate diagnostics?

Such a scan is a very accurate way of diagnosing. Due to its high accuracy, it helps to objectively and quickly diagnose many vascular diseases. But it is worth noting that the quality of the study and the accuracy of its results are affected by how serviceable and whether a sufficiently new device is used. It must be in good condition and with the correct settings. In addition, it is very important that the study was conducted by an experienced diagnostician. Even the most modern and new equipment cannot replace an experienced and talented diagnostician. Sometimes the results of a study of the same patient with different diagnosticians or with different devices can vary quite a lot.

Can such scanning be considered the final and decisive method in the study of the state of blood vessels?

Very often, it is the scanning of blood vessels that becomes decisive for the diagnosis and further treatment. After it, most often the doctor can already prescribe a specific treatment regimen. But there are times when this study is not enough. We are talking about operations on the vessels. In this case, the doctor may resort to additional research methods. For example, radiopaque, magnetic resonance, or computed angiography is often prescribed.

Duplex scanning is greyscale echography. The procedure includes two main parts: spectral Doppler analysis and color coding. At the moment, this research method is mainly used to diagnose the vessels of the head and neck. This procedure is non-invasive and cannot damage brain tissue. Scanning is also widely used in the study and diagnosis of blood vessels and veins of the arms and legs, the penis, and the small pelvis. In some cases, such a study is done even during pregnancy to monitor the development of the fetus and control the process, but the radiation is minimized as much as possible.

Duplex scanning is often called vascular Doppler. The procedure got its name in honor of the Australian physicist K. Doppler. Initially, the Doppler effect was used in navigation processes.

The Doppler study is as follows: when scanning, a picture of the movement of blood is displayed on the device. The image is obtained by the fact that blood particles in the vessels collide with an ultrasonic wave and the frequency of the sound is shown on the screen in a certain color. Also, a constant graph of the speed of blood particles is displayed on the screen of the device. After that, experts decipher the testimony and draw a conclusion.

Indications

Complaints of pain in the head and neck, as well as tinnitus or impaired coordination.
Sleep disturbance, insomnia.
Perinatal infantile encephalopathy, brain damage. Duplex scanning of blood vessels allows you to notice deviations in the development of the fetus in the early stages.
Circulatory disorders.
Neurocirculatory dystonia is a disorder of the cardiovascular system. This phenomenon is also called "excitable heart". In this case, patients often complain of fatigue or drowsiness, sweating or headache.
Migraine.
Memory lapses, distracted attention.

Contraindications for carrying out

There are no specific contraindications to dopplerography of blood vessels. The procedure is not only painless, but also safe. It can even be carried out 2 or 3 times a day. It does not harm pregnant women, children and the elderly.

Preparation for the event

Another indisputable advantage of duplex scanning of veins and blood vessels is that the patient is not required to comply with any regimen, taking tests. The procedure is not carried out on an empty stomach, the patient is not required to limit himself to food. However, before the procedure, it is forbidden to drink energy drinks, coffee or tea, and smoke.

How is it carried out?

The procedure takes place in a special room equipped with equipment such as a scanner, an ultrasonic sensor, and a monitor. During the study, the patient is asked to lie on the couch, so that he is comfortable, and they are asked to remove clothing from the place where the special gel will be applied and the sensor will be located. The entire study takes 20 minutes. After that, the gel is washed off.

Based on which part of the body will be scanned, the sensor is attached to the muscles of the neck, on the skin of the chest or abdomen, on the arms and legs. Also, to examine the veins and vessels of the legs, the patient may be asked to take a standing position, as this largely helps specialists to assess the condition of the arteries and veins that are responsible for the legs.

Advantages of the method

Many experts claim that duplex vascular scanning is one of the best and most useful methods for diagnosing diseases. With the help of this study, it is possible to determine pathologies even at the earliest possible time. It allows you to give the most correct assessment in the development of diseases, since the study is carried out in the "gray scale" mode. Some of the pathologies that ultrasound duplex scanning can detect are spider veins and varicose veins, atherosclerosis, traumatic injuries, varicose veins, vascular anomalies, and thrombosis.

Price

The price of duplex scanning of blood vessels ranges from 2200 to 3000 rubles.

Diagnostics

Precision Equipment
Modern research methods

Duplex scanning of blood vessels

Prices for duplex scanning of blood vessels

Vascular ultrasound- duplex (triplex) scanning with color Doppler stream coding.

The method is safe, painless, highly informative, combines the visualization of vessels and tissues surrounding the vessel with simultaneous examination of blood flow in the lumen of the vessel to detect the presence of blood clots, atherosclerotic plaques and assess the degree of narrowing of the arteries, aneurysms (vasodilation), pathological tortuosity of vessels, violations of the blood supply to vital organs. Allows you to reliably assess all existing changes in the vascular wall, including in the early stages of vascular diseases.

Why it is worth doing in our clinic

In our clinic, vascular studies are carried out highly qualified specialists who examine almost all departments of the vascular system, who have extensive experience in examining patients with vascular diseases, including those of a surgical profile, who have undergone reconstructive operations on the arteries of the extremities, vessels of the head and abdominal cavity. If necessary, additional methods are used during the studies, such as compression and rotation tests, the Valsalva test, Allen's test, the test with reactive hyperemia, etc. Active cooperation of specialists with doctors of clinical departments will allow you to get the necessary advice on the results of the examination.

Indications

Cerebrovascular disease (headache, dizziness), osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia

Varicose disease, thrombophlebitis, phlebothrombosis, post-thrombophlebitic disease

Atherosclerosis, endarteritis and diabetic angiopathy of lower extremity arteries

Atherosclerosis of the visceral branches of the abdominal aorta (vessels supplying the organs of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys)

Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and other vessels

Vascular injuries and their consequences

Vascular control before surgery

Vascular control after surgery

Screening examination (a study to identify asymptomatic forms of the disease)

To determine which vessels need to be examined, a specialist will help you - a doctor - a vascular surgeon (angiosurgeon), a cardiologist, a neurologist, a therapist.

Contraindications

This research method has no contraindications.

Methods and indications:

Duplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries, cerebral vessels

The study is carried out to identify the causes of headache, dizziness, in the presence of spinal pathology, arterial hypertension, with elevated blood cholesterol levels, to identify pathological tortuosity and structural variants of blood vessels supplying the brain, and also as a screening for early detection of atherosclerosis. The examination begins with an examination of the vessels at the extracranial level (brachiocephalic arteries at the level of the neck), if necessary, an examination at the intracranial level (cerebral vessels).

To conduct the study, the patient needs to undress in the office from the top to the waist (down to underwear), remove jewelry from the neck and lie on the couch on his back, raising his chin. Depending on the complexity of the case, the examination can take up to 30-40 minutes.

Training

Duplex scanning of the venous system (veins of the lower extremities, veins of the upper extremities).

The study is carried out to diagnose varicose veins, deep and subcutaneous vein thrombosis, to identify the causes of edema and pain in the extremities, to patients who have previously undergone venous thrombosis for dynamic monitoring, as well as preoperative preparation.

To conduct the study, the patient must undress in the office below or above the waist (up to underwear), remove socks, stockings, bandages (if any) and lie on the couch on his back. In some cases, the study is also carried out with the patient standing and lying on his stomach, at the request of the doctor, simple tests are performed (holding the breath, straining). Depending on the complexity of the case, the examination can take up to 30-40 minutes.

Training

The study does not require special preparation for the patient.

Duplex scanning of the venous system (inferior vena cava, iliac veins, renal veins)

Examination of veins at the level of the abdomen is performed in patients to determine the level of spread of thrombosis, if any, and to control the installed cava filter.

Training

Duplex scanning of the arterial system (lower limb arteries, upper limb arteries)

The study is carried out in patients to identify the causes of pain in the limbs that occur during movement and walking, to clarify the degree and extent of narrowing of the arteries in atherosclerosis, patients with diabetes mellitus, control of patients who have undergone reconstructive surgery on the arteries of the limbs.

To conduct the study, the patient must undress in the office below or above the waist (up to underwear), remove socks, stockings, bandages (if any) and lie on the couch on his back. Depending on the complexity of the case, the examination can take up to 30-50 minutes.

Training

The study does not require special preparation for the patient.

Duplex scanning of the abdominal aorta, iliac arteries, visceral branches of the abdominal aorta (celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, renal arteries)

The study is performed on patients to clarify the causes of pain in the abdominal cavity, which may be caused by stenosis (narrowing) or occlusion (blockage) of the branches of the abdominal aorta (for example, the mouth of the celiac trunk) or an aneurysm (expansion) of the abdominal aorta, as well as to exclude narrowing of the renal arteries in arterial hypertension.

To conduct the study, the patient must undress in the office above the waist (down to underwear), lower the pants or skirt and lie on the couch on your back. Depending on the complexity of the case, the examination can take up to 30-40 minutes.

Training

The study is carried out in the morning, on an empty stomach.

1. Three days before the study, exclude gas-producing foods from the diet: vegetables, fruits, legumes, dairy products, black bread.

2. The last meal of the day before 19-00 hours.

3. If the patient has a tendency to constipation, it is recommended to perform a cleansing enema the night before.

4. On the eve of the study, take 2 capsules of espumisan after each meal (3-4 times a day

Duplex scanning of the complex: left renal vein, spermatic vein, veins of the pampiniform plexus

The study is carried out as part of an examination for infertility, in the presence of dilated veins of the scrotum (varicocele).

To conduct the study, the patient must undress in the office above the waist (down to underwear), lower trousers and underwear, and lie on the couch on his back. During the study, at the request of the doctor, simple tests are performed: holding the breath, straining. Depending on the complexity of the case, the examination can take up to 30-50 minutes.

Training

The study is carried out in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Three days before the study, exclude gas-producing foods from the diet: vegetables, fruits, legumes, dairy products, brown bread.
2. The last meal of the day before 19-00 hours.
3. If the patient has a tendency to constipation, it is recommended to perform a cleansing enema the night before.
4. On the eve of the study, take 2 capsules of espumisan after each meal (3-4 times a day

Duplex scanning of vessels, rectus muscles of the eye

To conduct the study, the patient lies on the couch on his back and closes his eyes.

Training

The study does not require special preparation for the patient.

Duplex scanning of an arteriovenous fistula

The study is conducted for patients preparing for the imposition of an arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis sessions, as well as for monitoring functioning fistulas.

To conduct the study, the patient lies on the couch on his back, freeing the arm to be examined.

Training

The study does not require special preparation for the patient.

Duplex scanning of the internal mammary arteries

The study is carried out as part of the preoperative preparation for patients preparing for surgery - coronary artery bypass grafting to examine the arteries as a material for shunts.

To conduct the study, the patient needs to undress from the top to the waist in the office and lie on the couch on his back.

Training

The study does not require special preparation for the patient.

Frequent headaches and dizziness may be the result of various severe vascular pathologies of the brain. In order to identify them, there are various diagnostic and research methods, one of which is duplex scanning of the vessels of the neck and head.

This method is non-invasive, and therefore is considered one of the safest. It is especially attractive that it does not require any special training and does not have any contraindications.

What is a diagnostic method

This method of vascular diagnostics provides complete information on the entire vascular system of the human body. With its help, you can evaluate and analyze the speed and nature of blood flow, as well as determine the presence of thrombosis or other vascular pathologies.

The study usually proceeds in two stages: two-dimensional mode and duplex study.

In 2D mode, you can see the vessels and adjacent tissues, limited only by this information. He does not give any information about the blood supply.

With a duplex examination, you can see the full picture of what is happening in the vessels, with a detailed description and a two-dimensional color picture.

What is the procedure for?

Unlike simple ultrasound, this diagnostic method provides the most complete information about hard-to-reach vessels of the neck and head. This is especially true for vessels located in the brain, with identified blood flow disorders.

Before the advent of such a modern technique, it was extremely difficult, if not almost impossible, to examine the state of the brain.

Diagnosis was carried out using ultrasonic Doppler equipment. The uzist applied the sensor to the problem areas and recorded the sound using a special apparatus.

But it became possible to see what is happening in the vessels of the cervical region and the brain only when using the duplex scanning technique.

What is the difference between duplex and triplex scanning

These diagnostic methods are very similar to each other and have practically no differences, with the only difference being that with triplex scanning, the vessels can be viewed in three-dimensional space. Duplex mode represents information in only two planes. In fact, triplex scanning is positioned as an additional procedure when conducting a duplex study.

And if we take into account the fact that the crystal that transmits and receives the signal is the same, then the resolution of the triplex method is considered slightly worse than the duplex one. The quality of work will depend entirely on the quality of the apparatus and the qualifications of the doctor conducting the study, and not on the diagnostic method.

Who needs the procedure

Usually, the doctor prescribes such a procedure to the patient if he is diagnosed with: atherosclerosis or endarteritis, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis or vasculitis, aortic aneurysm, diabetic angiopathy, various vascular injuries, varicose veins, vascular anomalies of the head and neck, vertebral artery syndrome.

Such an examination is indicated as a screening for asymptomatic diseases and as a control after surgical intervention in the vessels of the circulatory system.

Currently, transcranial duplex scanning of the vessels of the neck and head is considered the most important method for studying the vascular system of the brain. It is done using ultrasound with color Doppler mapping, as well as through spectral analysis.

The main indications for such an examination are:

dizziness, severe headaches,;
cerebral hypertension;
memory impairment;
hearing loss;
chronic and acute cerebral ischemia;
vasculitis and diabetes mellitus;
vascular pathologies of the brain;
various brain diseases with identified blood flow disorders after surgery.

Preparation for the procedure and contraindications

This technique is especially popular precisely because it is absolutely harmless and has absolutely no contraindications. This procedure can be performed on patients regardless of age: both children and elderly patients. You can repeat the procedure as many times as necessary until the diagnosis is definitely established.

In addition, a diagnostic examination does not require absolutely any preliminary preparation. But there are some recommendations that will make this procedure much more effective.

On the day of the examination, give up nicotine and any other substances that, to one degree or another, affect vascular tone:

energy;
strong .

If you use any medications, such as Betaserc or Phezam, you should first warn about this who prescribed this procedure. Before scanning, you need to get rid of jewelry from the neck of the head: earrings, chains, hairpins, and others. And at the end of the procedure, you must thoroughly wash your hair.

How is the procedure

This diagnostic method is absolutely painless and does not require general or local anesthesia. The patient is examined standing, lying or sitting, depending on which organ needs to be examined.

The surface of the skin is lubricated with a special gel, which facilitates the procedure. Then the uzist directs the sensor to the pathology site.

When duplex scanning the brain, the sensor is applied to the so-called "ultrasound windows" - the foci of the cranium, where the bones are thinner or where there are holes in them.

Through such zones, the ultrasound beam freely enters the cranial cavity.

During the procedure, the patient may be required to adopt a more comfortable posture for the examination. The doctor may also ask you to hold your breath or do something similar. This examination lasts about half an hour and causes absolutely no discomfort.

Advantages and disadvantages of the methodology

The advantages of this examination technique include the detection of vascular diseases, such as thrombophlebitis or atherosclerosis, in the early stages, the most reliable data on the state of blood flow and the vascular system of the brain, an easy way to diagnose pathologies of vascular patency, and the detection of thrombosis.

The most important advantage of this method is the detection of diseases at very early stages, when the first clinical signs have not yet appeared.

This method is safe, it can be carried out as many times as needed. In addition, it is non-invasive, which means that during its implementation it is not necessary to use any medications. This is also a significant plus, since it certainly excludes the presence of possible allergic reactions or side effects.

Duplex scanning of the vessels of the neck and head is one of the most effective and at the same time the most informative diagnostic method. It is absolutely harmless and safe and does not require any special preparation for its implementation. This modern research method makes it possible to identify diseases and vascular pathologies at the earliest stages of their development and to cure them in a timely manner.

The duplex diagnostic method involves the simultaneous study of the characteristics of the patency of the vessels (their tortuosity, narrowing, compression) and the degree of their filling with blood. When scanning the vascular bed of the head and neck, conventional ultrasound and Dopplerography are combined. This method has a greater diagnostic value than rheoencephalography.

Read in this article

Why is duplex scanning of the head and neck prescribed?

When studying the state of the vessels, the following changes can be detected:

the degree of extensibility of the vascular wall;
whether there are damages to the inner shell;
the presence of blood clots or atherosclerotic plaques in the lumen of the vessel;
the correctness of the anatomical shape and branches in the vascular bed.

The special value of this method is the ability to assess the threat from the existing atherosclerotic plaque. If it is tightly connected to the vessel wall, then the risk of blockage is negligible.

Duplex scanning of veins and vessels of the neck

Such a study can help diagnose signs of atherosclerosis of the cervical arteries, how pronounced their narrowing, the presence of signs of inflammation, diabetic angiopathy, communication between the venous and arterial network, impaired blood outflow through the veins or entry into the cerebral tissues due to osteochondrosis of the spine.

Duplex scanning of the arteries of the head, brachiocephalic vessels, brain

With the help of scanning, it is possible to examine the patency of the carotid artery, the brachiocephalic trunk (carotid and vertebral artery), a branch of the left artery located under the clavicle. The supply of blood to the brain depends on the patency of these vessels. Research may reveal:

anatomical anomalies of the structure;
traumatic injuries;
aneurysmal expansions;
inflammation or diabetic vascular disease;
compression by a tumor, edema, hemorrhage;
circulatory disorders due to spasm or blockage.

Duplex scanning of the internal carotid artery: A - atherosclerotic plaque (shown by arrows); B - the lumen of the vessel is blocked by a large plaque (shown by arrows); B - complete closure of the lumen of the vessel with a plaque; D - convoluted artery.

Benefits of duplex head and neck scanning

The advantage of a duplex examination is to determine the degree of circulatory disorders and its causes. This helps to assess the risk of acute vascular disorders, the time of their occurrence, and choose the right treatment tactics. The possibilities of this method are:

You can make a diagnosis without the presence of complaints (at an early stage of the disease).
Detection of blockage or narrowing of the vessel, localization and effect on the blood supply.
Assessment of the risk of complete occlusion of the vessel.

Study of spasm of the venous network and deviations of venous hemodynamics.
Determination of compensation possibilities in the presence of an obstruction to blood flow.
Evaluation of the treatment.
Identification of indications for surgical intervention.

Indications for a scheduled duplex scan

A vascular scan will help determine the cause for such complaints:

This technique is indicated before performing operations on the heart, vessels of the neck, head, it will help reduce the risk of complications of manual therapy and massage of the collar zone.

It makes sense for some categories of people to undergo a study even in the absence of clinical signs: after the age of 45, with a hereditary predisposition to diabetes mellitus, hypertension or angina pectoris, smoking, after a stroke, after detecting a high level of cholesterol in the blood, with obesity. Scheduled diagnostics are performed at least once a year.

Preparing for a Duplex Head and Neck Scan

On the day of the examination, it is necessary to exclude the intake of caffeine in tablets or drinks, which means that you can not drink coffee, energy drinks, black and green tea. It is forbidden to smoke and take alcohol. If vascular preparations were prescribed, then their use must be agreed with the doctor, as they distort the scan data. Before the procedure, you will need to remove all hairpins, and after it, wash your hair.

Performing a duplex head and neck scan

The duration of the study, as a rule, does not exceed 40 minutes. The scanning probe is lubricated with a special ultrasound gel, which is passed over the scalp and neck. The resulting signals are sprinkled through a computer system onto a screen, where they are visualized as a typical image. In addition, the device captures the movement of blood cells, a color picture of the direction and distribution of blood flow is obtained.

If necessary, stress tests can be performed to determine the reserve capacity to increase blood flow in response to increased demand.

About the benefits and conduct of duplex scanning of the head and neck, see this video:

Decryption of received data

After receiving data on the state of the vessels, the doctor can come to the following conclusions:

In addition, the size of the atherosclerotic plaque, its adhesion to the vessel, and the possibility of detachment from the wall are described.

duplex scanning cost

Depending on the scope of the study and the need for functional stress tests, the cost of scanning the head and neck can vary from 1200 to 3700 rubles. On average, prices are about 2500 rubles. Only the vessels of the neck or only the brachiocephalic vessels can be examined. In such cases, the price can be significantly reduced.

Duplex scanning of blood vessels helps to visualize changes in their anatomical shape, narrowing, compression, as well as blockage by a thrombus, atherosclerotic plaque and at the same time to study hemodynamic disturbances that occur with such a pathology. It is used both for early diagnosis and for assessing the risk of developing acute cerebrovascular accidents.