The Doppler, often associated with the echo-Doppler, is an ultrasound examination which makes it possible to analyze the circulation of the blood, in the veins or the arteries and to measure the diameter of the vessels.
A Doppler is an examination of vessels and measurement of blood flow that uses ultrasound. He is often coupled with ultrasound called “echo-doppler”. It is a painless, simple examination, which is done on an outpatient basis, without risk and widely used in first intention in the diagnosis of cardiovascular and neurological pathologies.
What is a Doppler?
The Doppler is a probe emitting ultrasound applied to the surface of the skin in an area of vascular interest. This examination uses the Doppler effect which corresponds to the shift in the frequencies of the waves emitted and received after having been reflected by the red blood cells, in proportion to the blood circulation speed. There are several types of devices:
- Continuous Doppler: permanent emission of an ultrasound beam
- Pulsed Doppler: short ultrasonic pulses
- Color Doppler: more recent and current technique. Pulsed Doppler equipped with a color coding system, the direction and speed of blood flow are represented by a color.
What is an arterial (echo)doppler (ASD)?
I’echo-Doppler arterial visualizes the arteries and their walls but also the blood flows that run through them. It lasts a few minutes. The ultrasound effect allows the visualization of vascular structures. The Doppler echo transmits black and white images of the vessels on a screen, and a color code reveals the flows. Doppler ultrasound is safe for health and is done frequently to the study of the arteries of the neck (TSA or supra-aortic trunks), the aorta or the arteries and veins of the lower limbs.
What is a venous (echo)-Doppler?
The venous echo-Doppler makes it possible to study the blood circulation in the veins and to detect disorders, in particular venous insufficiency or phlebitis (formation of a blood clot). It is also carried out to follow the evolution of varicose veins. The examination lasts about 20 minutes and is based on the emission of ultrasound. The doctor compresses the veins using a probe and raises the leg in the direction of the vein.
What is a Cardiac Doppler?
Cardiac Doppler is used to study the circulation of blood in the heart and the large vessels. It makes it possible to describe and quantify abnormal aspects: reduction in cardiac output, valve leakage, etc.
What is a vascular Doppler?
The vascular Doppler makes it possible to measure the circulation in the arteries and the veins and to describe the abnormal aspects of thrombosis or occlusion (stopping of the circulation), of stenosis (narrowing of the vessel), of inversion of direction of physiological circulation. .. It is particularly indicated for diagnosis:
- Stenosis of the internal carotid arteries or vertebral arteries in the neck
- Arteriopathy of the lower limbs
- Phlebitis of the lower limbs
What is a neck Doppler?
The echo-Doppler of the neck allows the study of the blood flow of the arteries which start from the heart and go to the brain: we speak of echo-Doppler of the supra-aortic trunks or TSA. It allows you to check the condition of these vessels and identify any narrowings in the walls or decreases in blood flow that can lead to a stroke. In effect, “people at risk, such as diabetics, obese people, smokers, or people with heart problems are regularly subjected to Doppler monitoringobserves Dr. Amara.
What is a transcranial Doppler?
Transcranial Doppler refers to a medical imaging technique (ultrasound) which consists of exploring the cerebral arteries. It is, for example, indicated to highlight a narrowing of an intracerebral artery (stenosis) in the context of an ischemic stroke. It also makes it possible to determine the impact in the event of stenosis, occlusion or after carotid surgery. Transcranial Doppler can also be used to diagnose brain death and to monitor patients who have suffered severe head trauma.
What is the difference between a Doppler and an echo-Doppler?
The Doppler (the probe emitting ultrasound which analyzes the blood conduit to the vessels) is often associated with the ultrasound which is called l‘Doppler echo which makes it possible to visualize the vessels and their structures.
The patient lies on the examination table. The sonographer spreads a gel intended to promote the passage of ultrasound then slides the Doppler probe over the area examined. The practitioner observes on the screen the cross-sectional image of the tissues encountered by ultrasoundprovided by two-dimensional ultrasound and representation of blood flow measured at the same place by the Doppler technique. Arterial Doppler is performed on the main arteries that can be affected by atherosclerosis: in particular the carotids (vessels in the neck) and the arteries of the legs for the lower limbs. “A probe emitting ultrasound is applied to the skin area near the vein or artery to be examined“, explains Dr. Walid Amara, cardiologist at the GHT Grand Paris Nord Est in Montfermeil. The results of an echo-Dopplerconfronted with the results of the clinical examination, are in principle directly available after completion of the examination.
How long does a Doppler last?
The exam lasts no more than 40 minutes.
What are the side effects ?
It is a painless examination that does not require anesthesia, hospitalization and does not cause any side effects.
Price and reimbursement
Depending on the type of examination carried out and the practice in the private or public sector, the price may fluctuate between 30 euros and 150 euros. In principle, these examinations are covered by health insurance if they are carried out within the framework of a medical pathology.
Thanks to Dr Walid Amara, cardiologist at the GHT Grand Paris Nord Est in Montfermeil.