Doppler Ultrasound:

Doppler ultrasound uses reflected sound waves (sonar) to help evaluate the velocity and quality of blood flow through an artery or vein. To perform the test, the patient reclines on a table.  The technician or physician applies a hand held transducer over the blood vessels to be evaluated.  The transducer emits sound waves, which are reflected from the vessel and the moving blood flow, recorded and analyzed.

Extra-Cranial Cerebrovascular Duplex Scan: Carotid arterial assessment using non-invasive real time ultrasound scanning, combined with Doppler color and spectral analysis is fast becoming the test of choice in the evaluation for hemodynamically significant occlusive disease in the neck.  Evaluation of the neck includes assessment of the right and left carotid and vertebral arteries.

Carotid duplex scanning is a cost effective and very accurate screening test and gives the attending physician(s) valuable information relative to the degree of artery narrowing (stenosis) and the type of plaque present in the artery.  The vertebral arterial circulation may also be assessed before or after exercise in order to rule out a Subclavian Steal syndrome.  This type of study may be ordered if your physician hears an abnormal sound over an artery (bruit) with a stethoscope or if he or she suspects arterial insufficiency.