Venous Ultrasound (Extremities)

Venous ultrasounds are commonly used to discover potentially dangerous blood clots in the legs, known as Deep Vein Thrombosis. If discovered early enough it is possible to treat these clots before they move to the lungs. Venous ultrasounds can be used to map an individual’s veins, in order to aid in the transferring of pieces of veins for use in bypass surgery. Venous ultrasounds are used in the treatment of varicose veins.

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the body’s tissues, structures, and blood flow. A transducer/probe and ultrasound gel work in combination to absorb the reflected sound waves to produce images on the monitor.

The sonographer will request that you lay quietly during the test to help ensure that the images are clear. Warm, water-based gel will be applied to the ultrasound transducer or directly on the skin. The sonographer will then move the transducer around on the area to obtain clear images of the underlying structures for the physician to interpret. Depending on the exam being performed, the sonographer may use light compression with the transducer during the exam.

The procedure typically lasts for 30-45 minutes, but the duration varies depending on the structure being examined.

Before the test is administered, you may be asked to change into a gown

The benefits of Venous Ultrasound:

• Ultrasound images are shown in real-time as they happen
• Blood clots can be detected before they pass to the lungs
• The structure and movement of the blood in the veins are able to be seen and recorded
• The exam is painless and non-invasive
• No ionizing radiation is used for this procedure

Risks you should be aware of:

• There are no known risks for ultrasound