This type of ultrasound examines a very specific and limited area. The exam may sometimes be requested for a non-vascular condition, which may be an abscess, edema, hematoma, ganglion, etc.
This exam is most often requested to analyze a vascular complication following a procedure, such as an arteriovenous fistula (an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein) or a false aneurysm (a small pocket of blood that escapes from an artery).
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No preparation is required.
Go to the reception desk of the imaging department, where you will put on a hospital gown.
Once in the exam room, you will be asked to lie down on your back. The medical imaging technologist starts by applying ultrasound gel, which is a water-based gel that conducts ultrasound waves through the skin, on the region that will be examined. Next, using an echocardiography probe (a small device that looks like a microphone), the technologist will examine your abdomen.
When vessel analysis is required, the technologist will use the Doppler technique. The Doppler ultrasound can be noisy at times. The Doppler technique is used to listen to blood flow. It is therefore completely normal to hear various sounds throughout the exam.
There are no side effects. After the exam, you may get dressed and leave. We will send the report from the exam to your doctor.