Venous Exam

Venous Doppler/Ultrasounds are non-invasive harmless exams used to determine how effectively the blood is flowing through your veins. This may be used to discover blood clots, and to evaluate abnormal veins causing varicosities and swelling. The studies are categorized into upper and lower extremity exams.

Note: In the lower extremities, there are two sets of veins:

1. Deep veins (located beneath the thigh muscles).
2. Superficial veins are found beneath the skin’s surface.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the upper or lower extremities. More commonly in the lower extremity, these clots can dislodge and become a life-threatening situation. Signs and symptoms of DVT are swelling usually in one leg (calf or thigh area), and warm red or darkened skin that is painful on touch.

Risk factors for DVT include: age, sitting or prolonged bed rest, injury, surgery, pregnancy, oral contraceptives, hormone replacement, obesity, and smoking.

Thrombophlebitis is a clot has formed in your veins near the surface of your skin, known as superficial thrombophlebitis. An injury or an old case of varicose veins can trigger clotting. Local therapy for superficial thrombophlebitis is usually highly effective.

A deep vein thrombosis is more dangerous than superficial thrombophlebitis because the clot might break off and move to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism is medical terminology for this condition. Pulmonary embolism risk is reduced when the symptoms of a DVT are recognized fast and treated immediately.

Varicose veins, a common condition in which valves become damaged causing a back flow of blood or decreased blood flow back to the heart. This will eventually lead to leg and unsightly vein swelling. Varicosities can also lead to sores, skin ulcers and blood clots.

Risk factors for Varicose veins include: age, gender mainly female, pregnancy, family history, obesity, and long periods or standing or sitting.

Varicose Vein Mapping is an ultrasound technique used to examine the veins in the legs in greater detail. This procedure is entirely non-invasive and comfortable. Alternatively, it may be referred to as venous insufficiency ultrasonography. This is different from a venous ultrasound
study, which looks for blood clots in the deep veins. Each patient’s veins will be mapped to help the doctor determine what treatment is needed. These studies inform us where the veins are at fault, how prominent the veins are, and whether or not an invasive operation is even possible for the patient. In most cases, an initial vein mapping examination is required before any surgery can be proposed.

Venous Doppler/Ultrasounds may also be used to map out veins in the arms or legs for vessels harvested during bypass surgeries. Another common indication for this study is to examine the patency of a fistula or graft for dialysis access.