What is a carotid artery duplex scan?

You have two carotid arteries in your neck that carry blood from your heart to your brain. The test may also examine the vertebrobasilar artery. This artery also carries blood to your brain.

Your healthcare provider uses a transducer device to create images of the arteries. The transducer sends sound waves that bounce off your blood vessels. The sound waves are too high-pitched to hear. The transducer collects the bounced sound waves and forms them into pictures. A duplex scan means that the provider uses two transducers. The second one, Doppler allows your healthcare provider to hear the sound waves that the transducer sends out. You may find out if your doctor can hear the rapid blood flow in a blood vessel and in what direction. If there is no sound or a very soft sound, it may indicate that you have an obstruction to the flow.

When do I need a carotid ultrasound?

You might require a carotid artery ultrasound if your healthcare professional wants to determine whether there are blood clots or plaque - fat and cholesterol deposits - building up inside your walls of the carotid arteries. These plaque deposits reduce blood flow to your brain, face, and neck. Eventually, it cuts off the blood supply. This causes a stroke when a carotid artery narrows and blocks.

Carotid ultrasound may be required if you:

• You had surgery on a narrowed artery.
• You have to have a follow-up stent in your carotid artery.
• You are coming in to get periodic check-ups because your artery was found to be narrow during a previous check-up.
• You have a bruit-an abnormal sound like a whoosh-that your provider may be able to hear with a stethoscope against your artery.
• You have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• You've had a stroke or TIA.
• You are scheduled to have coronary artery bypass surgery.
• You have diabetes.
• You have a history of stroke or heart disease in your family.
• Have a hematoma (collection or pool of blood).

Doppler ultrasound allows your doctor to look at:

• Blood flow.
• Narrowing or blockage in your artery.
• Malformations you've had since birth or tumors.

Who does a carotid ultrasound?

Ultrasound scans are performed by a health care provider called a sonographer or ultrasound technologist, although a radiologist can also perform them.

How does a carotid artery ultrasound work?

Carotid ultrasound exposes no radiation. Instead, it employs sound waves, forming images of the inside of your carotid arteries. A computer captures the information that the transducer-the device your provider places on your skin-transmits and creates images on a monitor of your carotid artery. The sonographer can record videos of the scan or just save snapshots of them like photos.

How do I prepare for this test?

You'll need no preparation for a carotid ultrasound, though you might want to wear a loose, comfortable shirt that doesn't have a high neckline and isn't too tight. If your shirt is too high on your neckline, they'll probably have you put on a hospital gown. Don't wear anything like necklaces, earrings, etc. that would interfere.

What can I anticipate on the day of the test?

You will go to your doctor's office or a health facility where you will be tested. The test lasts for about 30-45 minutes.

What would you expect in a carotid ultrasound?

Your health care provider will apply some clear gel to the sides of your neck. (You have one carotid artery on each side of your neck.) This gel might feel warm on your skin, but it helps sound waves move from your arteries to the transducer that your provider uses.

To make sure you receive the very best images for your test, you should not move around.

The process will then take place while you are lying on your back. The provider will press the transducer, a piece of equipment smaller than a price scanner at the local store, against the skin on the sides of your neck. The wave sounds bouncing back into the transducer after traveling down to your arteries will tell the computer exactly what the image should look like. Your provider will continue to move the transducer across your skin to take all the images they need.

Sound waves will not be audible unless it's a Doppler ultrasound. In such a case, you would hear swishing sounds that pitch up and down.

What to expect after a carotid artery ultrasound?

Your healthcare provider will provide you with a towel for removing the gel from your neck. After that, you may dress or get out of a hospital gown and head home if your results are not being obtained immediately. You can resume your daily activities.

What are the risks of a carotid ultrasound?

This procedure has no side effects. Although you might feel pressure at some point, you will not feel any pain because the transducer is on your neck.

When can you expect the results of the test?

Sometimes, the radiologist may speak with you directly, while sometimes, your provider gets a copy of your carotid ultrasound result and discusses it with you in a couple of days.

When should I contact my doctor?

If a couple of days have passed since your carotid ultrasound, and you have yet to receive the results, ask your healthcare provider. When your results are ready, call your provider if you have questions about the treatment recommended for you.

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