Blood flow studies

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Duplex/doppler ultrasound test

Overview

Risks

Results

Blood flow studies

Alternative Names:

Duplex/Doppler ultrasound

Normal Values:

As part of a duplex ultrasound, the doctor may calculate an ABI or ankle-brachial index. This number is obtained by dividing the pressure in the ankle by the pressure in the arm. A value of 0.9 or greater is normal. Your doctor will also check the flow of blood in the vessels with the ultrasound.

What abnormal results mean:

An ABI of less than 0.5 is linked to peripheral vascular (arterial) disease.

Other abnormal blood flow patterns can be seen with:

Deep venous thrombosis (thrombophlebitis is an inflammation of a vein due to a blood clot)
Superficial thrombophlebitis
Communicating vein thrombophlebitis

These tests, or tests like them, may also be performed for additional conditions:

Raynaud's phenomenon
Stroke secondary to carotid dissection or carotid artery narrowing

Review Date: 8/11/2005
Reviewed By: Joseph P. Hart, M.D., Marco Polo Traveling Fellow c/o Department of Vascular Surgery, A. Z. St. Blasius Hospital (Belgium). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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