Ultrasound of the vessels of the foot. Indications and methods of ultrasound and ultrasound of the vessels of the legs

Ultrasound of the vessels of the upper and lower extremities- one of the most informative, safe, quick ways diagnostics to assess the degree vascular pathology and detect it at an early stage of disease development. The initial method of examination is ultrasound of the vessels of the upper and lower extremities. Supported by duplex angioscanning (USDS), this technique has no analogues in terms of studying the pathology of the vessels of the upper and lower extremities.

Principles of vascular ultrasound

The ultrasound method is based on the ability of low ultra-frequency reflections from objects in motion. Analyzing the data obtained by means of ultrasound sensors, a specially compiled algorithm (computer program) builds a graphical representation of the features of blood flow and vascular structure. A number of devices allow you to see a color image of the recorded processes. The movement of blood and the pulsation of the veins and arteries of the upper and lower extremities can not only be seen, but also heard.

Indications for ultrasound examination of the lower extremities

Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities is a safe and affordable research method. However, like any medical procedure, it should be used according to indications and under the supervision of a medical specialist. If you have any disturbing symptoms, you need to contact a phlebologist.

Indications for ultrasound of the arteries and veins can be:

• parasthesia (tingling, crawling, numbness);
• telangioctasia (spider veins), visible extension venous walls;
• swelling in the legs, feet (with a predominance of unilateral);
• color changes skin legs (brown to purple);
• long-term non-healing wounds/scratches, trophic ulcers;
• pain, heaviness and cramps of the calf muscles;
• pallor or cyanosis of the skin of the feet;
• skin itching in the leg area;
• night pains in the calf muscles;
• weakness in the legs, noticeable during exercise;
• intermittent (appearing and passing) lameness;
• cold extremities regardless of the ambient temperature;
• a decrease in the volume of the lower leg, a decrease in hair growth, etc.

Additional indications for an ultrasound examination of the vessels of the lower extremities are: hypertension, diabetes, obesity. As well as myocardial infarction and vascular surgery on the legs, an increase in the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.

Types of ultrasound diagnostics of blood vessels

There are a lot of questions about the terminology of ultrasound diagnostics. What is the correct name for this study? Any study using ultra-low frequencies is an ultrasound. There are several hardware methods for angiodiagnosis of arteries and veins, both of the upper and lower extremities:

• Ultrasound Doppler/Doppler- graphic registration of blood flow, with the determination of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of its speed. It is used to detect diseases of the arteries and veins of the upper and lower extremities. The method is quite simple, takes a little time, there are portable devices that will allow examination of seriously ill patients.
• Duplex angioscanning (USDS or USAS). This is a combination of spectral Doppler study and color mapping. Areas with different blood flow rates are colored in different shades, opposite colors are colored in different directions of blood flows (from the sensor and to the sensor). Allows you to determine the state of the vessel, its anatomical features and defects, evaluate the blood flow, its qualitative and quantitative characteristics.
• Triplex angiscanning of blood vessels– volumetric color study vascular system. It is of the greatest value in preoperative examinations. Suitable for those patients who have a serious pathology of the arteries and veins of the lower and upper limbs.

Where can I do an ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities? The studies described above are available at any phlebology center or medical institutions that include the Department of Vascular Surgery.

Preparation for ultrasound diagnostics of the lower extremities

This procedure does not require special preparation, diet, withdrawal of venotonics or other drugs that you take on an ongoing basis, etc. welcome as training routines hygiene procedures body and legs. The main preparation is to take a diaper (lay the couch) with you and remove the compression garment (if you wear one) before the examination.

Ultrasound diagnostics of pathological processes in the veins and arteries of the legs

Diseases of the venous system of the lower extremities require constant monitoring in order to timely determine the need for surgery or track the effectiveness of treatment.

There are no analogues in terms of safety, informativeness, harmlessness and accessibility to this method. Ultrasound of the vessels of the legs allows diagnosing the following pathologies with a high degree of certainty:

• CVI - chronic venous insufficiency;
• phlebothrombosis - blockage of a vein by a thrombus without inflammation of the vascular wall;
• thrombophlebitis - blockage of a vein by a thrombus with inflammation of the vascular wall;
• varicose veins;
• acquired valvular insufficiency of the venous system of the lower extremities.

Only with the help of ultrasound it is possible to mark the veins before surgery. Any disturbance of the arterial blood supply requires diagnostic procedures primarily ultrasound. The main ones are:

• aortic pathologies;
• thrombosis and embolism of arteries;
• obliterating diseases (endarteritis and atherosclerosis) of the arteries;
• Raynaud's syndrome;
• HAN - chronic arterial insufficiency;
• aneurysms peripheral arteries etc.

Transcription of ultrasound readings

In medicine, certain standardized methods have been adopted for recording the results of an ultrasound study of the vessels of the upper and lower extremities. A correct understanding of the record allows you to assess the degree of development of the disease, and the doctor to prescribe or correct the course of treatment.

The main indicators are as follows:

• blood flow velocity recorded during contraction and relaxation: maximum (Vmax) and minimum (Vmin);
• index of peripheral resistance (resistivity, RI);
• pulsation index - an indicator that characterizes the lumen of the vessel (PI);
• thickness of the intima-media layer (intima and middle shell, TIM).

Ultrasound of the vessels of the legs allows you to identify pathology at the very beginning of its development. In some cases, if you change your lifestyle (correct nutrition, add physical activity for people suffering from physical inactivity, to get rid of bad habits) it is possible to reverse or at least significantly slow down pathological vascular processes. The only competitor in the field of angiodiagnosis for ultrasound is angiography, but due to its trauma, invasiveness and complexity of execution, ultrasound scanning remains the preferred method of examination in most cases.

Ultrasound diagnostics has long been actively used in all branches of medicine. Technologies are constantly improving, which allows you to evaluate more and more parameters. Modern ultrasound is a hardware procedure that demonstrates blood flow indicators in several forms in real time: sound, graphic, and quantitative.

What is an ultrasound of the vessels of the legs

Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities is an informative research method that allows for early diagnosis, and therefore, to achieve more effective treatment and arteries, to which a huge number of our contemporaries are exposed.

Detection of pathologies early stages makes it possible to stop the progression of vascular diseases and avoid severe and dangerous complications with which they are fraught.

Previously, ultrasound made it possible to judge only the nature of the blood flow according to the Doppler curve on the monitor. However, today it is already possible to see veins and arteries (their diameter, the state of the walls), to do a spectral analysis of the blood flow in the vessels with duplex scanning, to monitor and evaluate blood flow in 3D mode with triplex.

Indications for ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities

An ultrasound examination of the veins can be prescribed for the following complaints and conditions:

swelling and pain in the legs;

heaviness and fatigue of the legs;

leg cramps at night;

numbness and tingling in the limbs;

purple mesh;

discoloration of the skin of the legs;

trophic ulcers;

restless legs syndrome (there is a need to move your legs at night);

protruding veins in the lower extremities.

pain in the legs when walking;

pain in the feet and fingers at night;

transferred operations on the arteries of the legs;

with diabetes.

What diagnoses can be made using this method

With the help of ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, the following pathologies can be detected:

Symptoms: swelling, bulging veins, itching, pain, heaviness in the legs, thickening and darkening of the skin of the legs. With varicose veins, there is stagnation of venous blood, valve failure, and vasodilation.

Deep vein thrombosis in the legs. With this disease, blood clots form in the vessels, preventing blood flow. While walking there are pains in the ankle joint.

Vessels of the legs. The disease is characterized by thickening of the walls of large arteries as a result of the deposition of cholesterol on them. Main signs: fatigue and pain in the legs when walking up stairs or uphill, cold extremities, impaired hair growth on the legs, the appearance of ulcers.

Obliterating endarteritis of the vessels of the legs. This is inflammation and narrowing of the small arteries. It is manifested by edema, pallor of the skin and their dryness, goosebumps, blue and brittle nails, increased sweating of the legs.

How is it carried out

During the procedure, the patient lies down. The doctor examines the control points using a sensor.

At the same time, it examines both veins and arteries of different calibers. The uniformity of blood flow and its changes due to blockage or narrowing of the lumen, the structure and course of blood vessels, the likelihood of arterial compression, and the severity of their spasms are assessed.

Since venous diseases are more common, their examination is of particular importance. In particular, the patency of deep veins in the legs and the solvency of the valves are evaluated. Approximately 30-50 minutes takes ultrasound of the vessels.

Price

The cost of the procedure may vary depending on the level. medical institution and region. An ultrasound of the vessels of the upper and lower extremities costs an average of 1,000 rubles, and of the brain - about 1,500 rubles.

The upright posture of a person, formed in the process of evolution, brought not only numerous advantages, but also vascular diseases of the lower extremities. According to statistics, every fifth woman and every eighth man suffer from pathologies of both deep and superficial veins.

To determine the degree, features and localization of the affected areas, ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is used - a simple, non-invasive method that allows you to identify the presence of abnormalities in the blood flow and vascular structure. The absolute harmlessness of the procedure makes it possible to carry it out as many times as necessary.

Features of ultrasound examination of the lower extremities

Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities provides a detailed study of the anatomy of the blood channels, the state of the valvular apparatus, the characteristics of the blood flow and the localization of its disorders. The Doppler effect underlying the procedure makes it possible to identify not only abnormalities in blood circulation, but also the resulting blood clots and inflammatory processes. Dopplerography is a technique that reflects ultrasonic waves from red blood cells moving through the bloodstream.

When it is carried out, the doctor gets a complete picture of the vascular formations, blood flow velocity and other nuances necessary to study the veins in the legs. emergence this method became the reason for the appearance in ultrasound of the vessels of the legs and other parts of the body of the second name - “doppler”. Currently, there are three types of Doppler ultrasound.

Doppler ultrasound (USDG)

This method is the most common two-dimensional ultrasound diagnostics of blood vessels. Ultrasound is used:

• to assess the patency of deep and superficial veins;
• determination of the functional state of venous valves;
• diagnostics of typically located valves of perforating veins.

Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities in this way is considered an outdated technique, but in terms of screening examination it is quite informative. When it is carried out, the doctor manages to recognize the first signs of vascular disorders. Therefore, the method is used mainly for preventive medical examinations or when it is not possible to conduct a more informative ultrasound of the legs.

Duplex scanning (USDS)

The technique is the most common today due to its high accuracy and information content in diagnosing the state of the venous system. The essence of the method is to combine ultrasound with online scanning. Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities allows the doctor to determine:

• condition vascular walls and valves;
• patency of superficial and deep veins;
• condition of perforating veins, regardless of their location;
• the presence of blood clots - their localization, size, mobility;
• the degree of damage to the vein site due to the formed thrombosis.

Ultrasound examination of the legs is a quick and informative procedure

Duplex scanning makes it possible to evaluate the functional state of not only the deep veins of the lower extremities, but also the arteries, which as a result shows a complete picture of the vascular network of the legs. This procedure is an integral part at all stages of vascular research, therapy with subsequent monitoring of dynamics, as well as for monitoring in postoperative period.

Ultrasound with color mapping (triplex scanning)

This method of ultrasound of the veins and arteries of the lower extremities is one of the latest developments in the world of diagnostics. Triplex scanning involves not only evaluating the characteristics of blood circulation in the vessels in real time, but also a color distinction that characterizes the speed of blood movement. Shades of red show blood flow towards the emitter, while the color palette of blue shows the opposite direction. The richer and more intense the color image transmitted to the monitor screen, the higher the blood flow velocity.

Recently, this technique is being used more and more often, since only it is able to show the most complete picture of all existing vascular abnormalities.

When is an examination necessary?

Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities will be necessarily prescribed by a specialist if the following manifestations are present during examination and consultation:

• swelling of the legs of varying severity;
• varicose veins visible to the eyes;
• pain when walking and standing for a long time;
• often disturbing cramps of the calf muscles;
• tingling or numbness of the lower extremities;
• the presence of itching in the legs not associated with skin diseases;
• Availability trophic ulcers;
• discoloration of the skin of one or both legs.

The skin in violation of the blood circulation of the veins of the legs can acquire multiple shades. This will be associated with the degree of damage to the site and predicting the reversibility of the process. So, a pink or bluish mild shade indicates a slight degree and a favorable prognosis with proper therapy.

Whereas large areas of dark purple or brown color indicate a dangerous disorder with a high probability of developing tissue necrosis, which requires urgent medical intervention, possibly even surgery. Modern devices make it possible to save many patients from the development of such complications, because ultrasound of the lower extremities shows almost all vascular abnormalities in the initial stages of their occurrence.

Discoloration of the limbs due to the progression of varicose veins

In some patients, blood circulation is disturbed not only in the legs, but also in the hands. Patients with diabetes mellitus often face such pathologies, which forces them to undergo an examination of the upper limbs. Diagnostic measures for the study of blood flow in the hands are recommended in the presence of:

• numbness and weakness;
• coldness of the palms;
• long non-healing wounds;
• difference in blood pressure different hands more than 20 mm Hg.

Heavy smokers, people with diabetes and hypertension are generally at risk for developing vascular diseases limbs. This list also includes women who are in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy, which is associated with an increased load on the entire body, including the legs and blood vessels that feed them. Compression of the pelvic organs during fetal growth often causes deep vein thrombosis and even arteries.

What diseases require regular ultrasound diagnostics of the legs?

Indications for regular examination with the help of ultrasound are based on the presence in the anamnesis:

• varicose veins - varicose veins;
• thrombosis - clogging of the vessel with blood clots;
• thrombophlebitis - inflammation of a vein due to blockage by a thrombus;
• post-thrombophlebic syndrome to control the condition.

During the examination, the following are diagnosed:

• blood clots, atherosclerotic plaques - their size, structure and exact localization;
• quantitative and qualitative characteristics of blood flow;
• the presence of stenosis (narrowing) of the vessels, and their degree of danger to the patient.

The high accuracy of the method and the possibility of real-time ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities allows you to perform the most complex operations minimizing the risk to the patient.

Preparatory process and procedure

Preparation for ultrasound is not required, except for the usual hygiene procedures. Therefore, you can get diagnosed at any time convenient for the patient. If you plan to be examined in a public hospital, then you should take a towel or diaper with you. Because they do an ultrasound of the veins of the legs, mainly in the prone position, and it will be more comfortable to lay something on the couch. To undergo diagnostics, the patient is invited to the office, and they are given two minutes to prepare - to remove clothes from the lower part of the body and sit comfortably on the couch.

There is no need to remove underwear - the procedure does not apply to the small pelvis. Examination of the legs is carried out in turn - first, the gel is applied to one and all projections of the vessels are carefully examined, then to the second. During the procedure, the patient does not feel anything - no pain or temperature. If present inflammatory process, for example, with thrombophlebitis, then when touching the emitter, there may be little discomfort.

Depending on the depth required for the study, the uzist will change the frequency settings of the emitted wave oscillations, but this will also be completely invisible to the subject. When examining the arteries of the legs or arms, the doctor during the diagnosis will apply cuffs to different parts of the limbs and measure blood pressure. Examination is carried out in a standing and lying position. When examining the veins of the legs, the limbs are first examined with the patient lying down, and then he is asked to stand up, and then the diagnosis is carried out while standing.

Ultrasound diagnostics of the venous vessels of the lower extremities is also first performed lying down, and then standing up. In addition, there are functional tests, allowing to assess the blood flow from superficial veins to deep veins. To do this, the patient will need to take a deep breath, and then, without exhaling, strain. Such diagnostics can be performed in normal and color mode.

The procedure can be performed in the following positions: lying on the back, on the stomach and standing

Sometimes, to improve the quality of visualization of deep large veins, not only functional tests are performed with straining, but also with pressure on the vein area with different intensity. In some cases, circulatory disorders of some veins in the legs may be associated with damage to one or another joint, then ultrasound of the joints of the lower extremities is prescribed in parallel, which allows you to get a complete picture of the area under study.

Interpretation of results

After the procedure, the received data is decrypted. This is done by an uzist who specializes in vascular diseases, a phlebologist or a vascular surgeon. So, when interpreting the results of examining the arteries of the lower extremities, their anatomical characteristics are evaluated: the thickness of the wall of the blood channels, resistance indicators indicating the degree of patency and the presence of arterial stenoses, blood flow features that correlate with systole and diastole (phases of the heart muscle), blood flow velocity, its dynamic changes taking into account the characteristics of arterial vessels.

When describing venous vessels, a specific research protocol is used, in which each vein is evaluated on the right and left sides. It specifies:

• whether venous circulation in the extremities is associated with respiration;
• quality of compression of vein-collectors;
• the presence or absence of thickening of the vascular walls;
• presence in the vessel lumen blood clots- blood clots;
• consistency in the work of venous valves;
• the presence of pathological casts (refluxes);
• localization of incompetent perforating veins more than 3 mm in diameter.

A blood clot formed near the valve is dangerous with the possibility of tearing off and blocking the vessel

When a thrombus is detected, thanks to ultrasound diagnostics, its full description is made, indicating how many percent of the thrombotic masses block the lumen of the vessel (if there is an overlap). In the absence of the fact of overlap, the characteristics of the thrombus are indicated - floating (mobile) or parietal, whether the clot is prone to movement when touched by the emitter. The density of the thrombus is also assessed - dense or soft.

Based on all these data, the vascular surgeon develops a therapeutic tactic that is most suitable for each specific case. In parallel, regular examination and ultrasound of the legs are prescribed to control the healing process and avoid complications of the disease. Compliance with all therapeutic and preventive recommendations for patients significantly increases the chance for a speedy recovery without subsequent relapses.

Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is a very popular procedure, as the number of vascular diseases is growing. If earlier they suffered mainly from the elderly, now there are quite a lot of young people among the patients of the phlebologist. In order to diagnose pathologies in time, successfully treat them and prevent serious consequences, it is sometimes necessary to examine organs using ultrasound.

The essence and principle of the methodology

Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities is the most informative and safe modern way diagnosis of dysfunctions of the circulatory system. The essence of the method lies in the fact that ultrasonic waves emitted by a special sensor penetrate the skin and soft tissues of the body.

Then they pass through the walls of the vessels and are reflected in a certain way from moving blood particles (in particular, from erythrocytes). The response signal is converted by the device into an image, deciphering which, the doctor can draw important conclusions about the state of the circulatory system.

Vascular ultrasound is based on a technique developed by the Austrian scientist Christian Doppler in the first half of the 19th century. This man had nothing to do with medicine, but she uses his discoveries very actively. An ultrasound examination, the purpose of which is to study the state of the circulatory system, is commonly called Doppler.

What allows you to see this method?

The standard procedure for ultrasound of the veins of the legs allows you to get an idea only of how the vessels perform their functions. For example, with what speed the blood moves through them, whether it stagnates, what is the degree of filling of the vessels with it. Ultrasound does not provide direct information about the structural features of the veins - only indirect.

Based on the obtained data on the blood flow, the specialist draws conclusions about the state of the venous valves, whether the walls of the vessels retain the integrity, etc. More accurate information about the structure is able to provide one of the types of ultrasound - three-dimensional scanning.

However, conventional Doppler is usually sufficient to reveal (even in the early stages):

• atherosclerosis;
• aneurysm;
• deep vein thrombosis;
• varicose veins;
• phlebitis;
• endarteritis;
• thrombophlebitis;
• Buerger's disease;
• chronic venous insufficiency.

Many of these pathologies are life-threatening if left untreated. Timely diagnosis allows you to take adequate measures and avoid serious consequences. Ultrasound in most cases allows you to determine the presence of diseases even before the onset of symptoms, which is extremely important. A special procedure also monitors the condition of the vessels in patients who have undergone acute thrombosis. This helps to prevent recurrence of a dangerous disease.

Varieties of ultrasound examination of blood vessels

The method of ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities has three varieties. Short description each of them:

• Ultrasound (two-dimensional Doppler) is the standard, oldest method. Provides a black and white image. However, it does not provide direct information about the structure of the vessels. It is the simplest and most affordable. It does not require the use of bulky equipment, so it can be used in cases with bedridden patients.
• Duplex view is two in one: doppler and scan. Assumes the use of digital equipment. Provides a color image. Allows you to get information not only about the features of blood flow, but also about the state of the vessels themselves, their structure. It is more accurate and modern than conventional Doppler.
• Three-dimensional scanning involves the use of such an ultra-modern method as color mapping. Allows you to get a three-dimensional image that informs not only about the main features of blood flow, but also about its intensity, which is indicated by shades.

Despite the fact that conventional Dopplerography is already considered somewhat outdated and its informativeness compared to more modern views Ultrasound below, this method is still widely used today. Although duplex scanning certainly takes the lead.

For whom is ultrasound of the vessels of the legs indicated?

The study is done on suspicion of the diseases already listed above (varicose veins, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, etc.). The following symptoms may be the reason for the diagnosis:

• spider veins on the legs;
• swollen veins;
• appearance age spots on the skin of the lower extremities;
• swelling in the legs;
• heaviness in the lower extremities after physical exertion;
• ulcerative lesions;
• numbness, "goosebumps", unpleasant tingling in the legs;
• pain when walking or at rest;
• cold extremities;
• pale feet;
• bluish fingers.

In order to prevent the development of vascular diseases, it is strongly recommended to undergo ultrasound for people suffering from diabetes or obesity, who have elevated level cholesterol in the blood.

Heavy smokers should also be checked regularly because they bad habit leads to vascular collapse. The ultrasound procedure is completely safe, so it can be done often. It will not bring harm to health, and the benefits of timely detection of pathology will be great.

Contraindications

Despite the high safety of the method, not all categories of patients are allowed to use it. So, contraindications for ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities are:

• damage to the skin of the examined area (including burns);
• acute infectious diseases;
• some cardiac pathologies (arrhythmia, myocardial necrosis);
• severe mental disorders;
• bronchial asthma.

In some cases, when the benefits of the study outweigh the possible risks, the doctor decides to conduct an ultrasound scan. Childhood, pregnancy, lactation are not included in the list of contraindications. These categories of patients can do ultrasound.

Preparation for the procedure and its implementation

No special preparation before dopplerography is required. The only thing that the patient needs to do is to carry out hygiene procedures. Feet must be clean.

In the ultrasound room, you will have to take off your clothes so that the diagnostician can access the limbs. Underwear remains on the patient. It is advisable to bring a towel or diaper with you, on which you can lie down. They are not issued in all offices.

Having undressed, the patient is laid face up on the couch, special cuffs are put on the examined limbs for measuring blood pressure. The doctor applies a transparent gel to the skin of the leg, which will improve the conduction of ultrasonic rays through the soft tissues. Without this tool, you will not get a clear image.

Then the process itself begins. The diagnostician drives a special sensor over the area being examined, barely touching the skin or pressing harder on it. The doctor may ask the patient to hold their breath and tense up.

Duplex scanning is carried out in different positions of the body. In horizontal (lying on the back, stomach, side) or vertical. This is necessary to obtain more accurate information. The doctor guides the process and tells you what position to take. When examining deep veins, as a rule, both black and white Dopplerography or a color version are used.

The duration of the procedure depends on the severity of the condition and the goal. Usually it is from 30 minutes to an hour. Ultrasound is a completely painless examination. The only thing unpleasant feeling can be caused by applying cool gel to the skin. After the end of the procedure, the product must be wiped off with a towel brought with you or given in the office.

About deciphering results

The results of ultrasound of the lower extremities are usually ready 15-30 minutes after the study. The patient is waiting for the decryption in the corridor. The attending physician reviews the results - you should not try to make a diagnosis yourself. From the conclusion it will be possible to learn about (about):

• the presence or absence of blood clots, their size, localization, consistency, degree of vessel overlap;
• dependence of blood flow on respiration;
• the thickness of the vascular walls;
• the speed of blood movement;
• whether the type of blood flow in each of the arteries corresponds to the norm;
• blood pressure in the vessels, etc.

The doctor necessarily compares the results obtained with the results of other examinations. The patient's complaints, his anamnesis, conclusions made during the visual examination are also taken into account. Only after a deep analysis of all available information is an accurate diagnosis made and treatment prescribed.

Where is ultrasound done and how much does it cost?

If a doctor gives a referral for an ultrasound scan, you can go through the study for free at the clinic. Often you have to sign up in advance or stand in a live queue, since there are usually a lot of people who want to.

Those wishing to avoid this can contact private clinic and go through the process for free. This service is very popular. It is provided in many medical institutions.

The cost of the procedure depends on the type of ultrasound (conventional Doppler, duplex or three-dimensional scanning). Color techniques will cost more. A traditional ultrasound can cost 700-800 rubles, and a more modern one can cost up to 8 thousand. The average price in Russian clinics is approximately 2-2.5 thousand rubles.

Ultrasound examination of the vessels of the lower extremities is a highly informative modern method, which allows you to identify various diseases in the embryonic stages. It is characterized by high security and relative accessibility. It is recommended to use it not only in the presence of symptoms, but also as a preventive measure.

The essence of ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities (ultrasound of the vessels of the legs) is that with the help of a special apparatus for carrying out diagnostics, ultrasonic waves are purposefully sent to circulatory system feet, after which the sensor captures the reflected waves, displaying images on the monitor. This type Ultrasound is performed with the Doppler effect, which allows you to get a picture of the state of the vessels, their movement and patency.

The price of ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities - ultrasound of the vessels of the legs in Moscow

The advantage of the procedure is its accuracy, painlessness, as well as the availability and absence of contraindications. Due to the fact that the procedure does not have a negative effect on the body, this diagnosis is prescribed for children and pregnant women. Ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities provides a lot of advantages for specialists who have the opportunity to conduct modern detection of various neoplasms in soft tissues.

Indications for ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities

Ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities is recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus, in preoperative studies, as well as in order to identify a number of diseases:

• thromboangiitis;
• development of disorders caused by the presence of blood clots;
• atherosclerosis,
• valvular vascular insufficiency,
• detection of varicose veins.

Ultrasound of the legs is indicated in the presence of the following symptoms:

• expansion of the saphenous veins,
• tingling in the legs,
• cold toes,
• occurrence spider veins,
• swelling, numbness and cramps in the limbs,
• pain in the legs resulting from prolonged exertion,
• preoperative diagnosis.

Indicators of ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities (ultrasound of the lower extremities is the norm)

The vessels of the lower extremities normally have the following characteristics:

• contours are clear and even,
• femoral artery wall thickness - 0.11 cm,
• passages of circulatory objects are clearly visible,
• hypoechoic vessels,
• the structure is homogeneous.

Preparation for ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities (legs)

This diagnosis does not require special preparation. There is no need to limit food and drink, which allows you to undergo the procedure at any time of the day. If the patient is taking drugs that change vascular tone or pressure, then it is worth informing the doctor about this, since such drugs can change the diameter of the vessels, thereby making it difficult to correctly diagnose and make a diagnosis.

Ultrasound examination of the arteries of the lower extremities

The study area starts from the groin and ends at the feet, since the ultrasound effect extends to the following arteries:

• iliac,
• femoral
• popliteal,
• tibial,
• fibula,
• foot arteries.

The larger the artery, the higher the blood flow velocity in it, which means that for the most accurate visualization it is necessary to use low-frequency sensors. So, for the aorta and iliac arteries, sensors with a frequency of 3.5 MHz are used, for the femoral - 5 MHz, and for studying other arteries - 7-10 MHz.

The procedure begins with the patient lying down or sitting on the couch. The doctor treats the surface of the legs with a special gel, which is used for the best conductivity of the sensor, and is removed after the procedure is completed. Scanning is carried out at different positions and various manipulations of the person being examined, for example, it may be necessary to tie a tourniquet on the shins or raise and bend the legs. For examination of the iliac and femoral arteries the patient needs to be in the supine position, with the legs slightly bent at the knees and moving them to the sides. To study the popliteal arteries, you need to lie on your stomach, and, straightening your legs, put your feet on the couch. The study of the tibial, peroneal and foot arteries is carried out lying on the back, while the legs should be bent at the knees at a right angle and somewhat laid aside. The diagnosis is completed when the doctor checks the results and completes the protocol.

Most quickly cope with such pathologies as atherosclerosis or the presence of plaques in the vessels that impede normal blood flow, perhaps due to their early detection using ultrasound of the arteries of the lower extremities. To date, ultrasound of the legs in Moscow is in high demand and has many advantages over other methods: accessibility, no radiation exposure, viewing and evaluating images of internal tissues and organs in real time. In our medical center, you can undergo ultrasound diagnostics of the arteries of the lower extremities in absolutely comfortable conditions, because this method has practically no restrictions.

Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is accessible and effective diagnostics the state of the venous system of the legs using ultrasound. Proper ultrasound diagnosis is a key factor in the treatment of various abnormalities, identifying them even in the early stages of development.

There are several types of ultrasound examinations:

1. Angioscanning

This method is carried out due to the reflection of ultrasound from the tissues, displayed on the monitor of the apparatus as an image. Allows you to identify deviations in the tissue structure of the legs, bends, blood clots and seals.

1. Doppler scanning

Doppler scanning allows you to visualize the blood flow passing in the vessels of the limbs, as well as obtain information about its speed and direction of movement. Detects the presence of deep vein thrombosis

1. Duplex sonography

Ultrasound of the vessels of the legs in Moscow (examination of the lower extremities) includes the technique of angioscanning and Doppler scanning. Duplex sonography reveals any abnormalities of the venous system.

Being a modern and affordable method, ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is widely used among different groups of people:

• pregnant,
• who are overweight,
• frequently lifting weights
• constantly working on their feet,
• women who prefer high heels.

• weakened pulse on palpation of the legs,
• swelling of the legs in the evening,
• the presence of varicose veins,
• hereditary predisposition to diseases of the vessels of the legs,
• the presence of cosmetic defects (vascular networks, enlarged veins, bruises),
• sudden muscle spasms
• decreased sensation in the legs
• chilliness and chilliness in the legs.

Also, the reason for the ultrasound of the vessels of the legs is a number of diseases:

• diabetes,
• atherosclerosis,
• arterial hypertension,
• insufficiency of venous circulation,
• intermittent lameness.

Venous insufficiency leads to impaired blood circulation, as well as to its stagnation in the vessels. Often, patients are referred for ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities after other examinations, since this is enough serious illness has no pronounced subjective symptoms.

Often, ultrasound is prescribed when pathologies are detected after the following examinations:

• functional tests for venous insufficiency,
• radiography of the lungs and heart,
• heart ultrasound,
• Coagulogram indicators (analysis for blood clotting index),
• coronary angiography.

Timely study of the venous bed using ultrasound allows you to identify various deviations from the norm in the early stages, which significantly speeds up the course of treatment.

Contraindications for ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities

Ultrasound is an affordable and fairly accurate method for diagnosing pathologies or a way to assess the dynamics of a patient's disease, but like any other method, it has limitations in its implementation. The limitations include those conditions or reactions of the body in which the result of the procedure will be uninformative:

• mental disorders,
• severe condition of the patient
• violation of the integrity of the skin,
• burns,
• infectious processes,
• serious condition of the patient (myocardial infarction, impaired heart rate, cerebrovascular accident).

The presence of such conditions limits the patient in all diagnostic tests. In some cases, the patient may feel discomfort associated with the duration of the procedure, during which the patient is constantly in a horizontal position. It should be borne in mind that the restrictions are temporary, their elimination makes the ultrasound procedure safe and informative.

During the procedure, the doctor receives a clear image of the vessels in real time, and also allows you to evaluate the following parameters:

• blood flow assessment,
• measurement of blood flow parameters,
• setting the location and size of the thrombus,
• see venous insufficiency of the valvular apparatus of the veins,
• determination of the size of the lumen of the veins and the presence of constrictions at different levels.

During the study, the doctor compares each vein of the left and right foot, checks for the presence of blood clots, in the detection of which it studies their size, size, mobility, and also assesses the state of blood flow and the state of venous valves.

Preparation for ultrasound of the vessels of the legs

In order to make an ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities, special preparation is not required, which allows the study to be carried out at any time convenient for the patient. There is no need to limit yourself to any foods or drinks. To exclude possible difficulties in making a diagnosis and conducting a diagnosis, the patient must inform the doctor about the drugs he is taking.

Ultrasound examination of the veins of the lower extremities

Ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities is a modern non-invasive method (the skin is not exposed to the use of needles or surgical instruments), which does not carry a radiation load, which can be repeated many times for one patient. The following large veins are examined:

• femoral,
• iliac,
• small subcutaneous,
• large subcutaneous,
• popliteal,
• leg veins.

The standard ultrasound of the vessels of the legs includes an assessment of blood flow, valves, the state of the vessels that connect the venous network.

Diagnostics is carried out according to a certain scheme, it lasts about 40-60 minutes. The subject lies on the couch, freeing the calves and thighs from clothing, as these parts of the body will be examined. A transparent gel is applied to the area of ​​the examined tissue, which promotes the best conductivity. Next, the doctor examines the legs by running the sensor over the body. First of all, the blood flow in the superficial veins of the thigh is studied. Next, the Valsalva test is carried out, in other words, the condition of the valves of the great saphenous vein is assessed. The popliteal vein is examined and the superficial, common and deep veins of the thigh are examined. The leg veins and their valves are visible in the standing position. The vessels connecting the venous network in the region of the thigh and lower leg are studied last. This diagnosis is able to detect the presence of blood clots and their location, often it is thanks to ultrasound that this or that disease is determined, and the tactics of treatment are also determined. Upon completion of the procedure, the gel is removed with a napkin from the surface of the skin, and the doctor prints out the recorded results.

Today, ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities in Moscow is in great demand, due to the fact that this diagnostic is safe, affordable and does not have a negative effect on the body. Our medical Center offers this procedure at an adequate price and in comfortable conditions.