Analyze the venous system of the legs or arms. This exam is generally requested in the case of suspected thrombophlebitis. The goal of the exam is to find the exact location and extent of the phlebitis.
A venous ultrasound of the legs may also be prescribed as a pre-surgical exam. In this case, particular attention is paid to the diameter of these vessels.
30 minutes
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. Then, using a small ultrasound probe that looks like a microphone, the technologist compresses the veins to assess their resistance. The compressions can sometimes be painful, but they are necessary for the diagnosis.
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.
It should be noted that the second part of the exam is conducted while you are seated to make it easier for the technologist to take images of the small vessels of the calf.
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.