Duplex Ultrasound can help detect blood flow blockages using sound waves. Podiatrists use a handheld device called a transducer to examine the potentially affected area. Duplex Ultrasound studies can help reveal a variety of conditions including:
- Deep Vein Thrombosis, in which a blood clot formed in a vein can move into the lungs
- Peripheral Arterial Disease, in which blood flow is obstructed to the arms or legs due to the narrowing of blood vessels
- Aortic Aneurysms, a bulge in the body’s main artery, the bursting of which can cause serious bleeding and death
- Other conditions such as mesenteric arterial disease, chronic venous disease, renal artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease
Duplex ultrasounds can also be used to map a patient’s veins before or after a coronary bypass.
