Biomaterial Database

Review of duplex and colour Doppler imaging of lower-limb arteries and veins. 1999

M J Lunt

West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust.

Ultrasonic imaging provides a non-invasive assessment of the arterial and venous circulation in the lower limb and is accepted as a valuable diagnostic technique. Grey-scale images identify plaque and thrombus, duplex assessment provides a measurement of blood velocity through a vessel, and colour Doppler imaging enables the rapid localization of arterial stenoses and occlusions and the identification of incompetent veins. This article outlines the principles of the different techniques and presents normal images. Procedures for investigating arterial stenoses, superficial venous incompetence and deep venous thrombosis are described, abnormal images presented and the limitations discussed. It is hoped to provide an insight into the strengths and limitations of ultrasonic vascular investigations for those involved in tissue viability and ulcer management.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007866	Leg	The inferior part of the lower extremity between the KNEE and the ANKLE.	Legs
D009730	Nursing Assessment	Evaluation of the nature and extent of nursing problems presented by a patient for the purpose of patient care planning.	Nursing Protocols,Assessment, Nursing,Protocols, Nursing,Assessments, Nursing,Nursing Assessments,Nursing Protocol,Protocol, Nursing
D005263	Femoral Artery	The main artery of the thigh, a continuation of the external iliac artery.	Common Femoral Artery,Arteries, Common Femoral,Arteries, Femoral,Artery, Common Femoral,Artery, Femoral,Common Femoral Arteries,Femoral Arteries,Femoral Arteries, Common,Femoral Artery, Common
D005268	Femoral Vein	The vein accompanying the femoral artery in the same sheath; it is a continuation of the popliteal vein and becomes the external iliac vein.	Femoral Veins,Vein, Femoral,Veins, Femoral
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013927	Thrombosis	Formation and development of a thrombus or blood clot in BLOOD VESSELS.	Atherothrombosis,Thrombus,Blood Clot,Blood Clots,Thromboses
D016491	Peripheral Vascular Diseases	Pathological processes involving any one of the BLOOD VESSELS in the vasculature outside the HEART.	Peripheral Angiopathies,Vascular Diseases, Peripheral,Diseases, Peripheral Vascular,Angiopathies, Peripheral,Angiopathy, Peripheral,Disease, Peripheral Vascular,Peripheral Angiopathy,Peripheral Vascular Disease,Vascular Disease, Peripheral
D018615	Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color	Ultrasonography applying the Doppler effect, with the superposition of flow information as colors on a gray scale in a real-time image. This type of ultrasonography is well-suited to identifying the location of high-velocity flow (such as in a stenosis) or of mapping the extent of flow in a certain region.	Doppler Ultrasonography, Color,Ultrasonography, Color Doppler,Color Doppler Ultrasonography,Color Ultrasonography, Doppler,Doppler Color Ultrasonography,Ultrasonography, Doppler Color
D018616	Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex	Ultrasonography applying the Doppler effect combined with real-time imaging. The real-time image is created by rapid movement of the ultrasound beam. A powerful advantage of this technique is the ability to estimate the velocity of flow from the Doppler shift frequency.	Doppler Ultrasonography, Duplex,Ultrasonography, Duplex Doppler,Doppler Duplex Ultrasonography,Duplex Doppler Ultrasonography,Duplex Ultrasonography, Doppler,Ultrasonography, Doppler Duplex