What is Colour Doppler Ultrasound?
A Colour Doppler ultrasound study is mainly useful to find out pathologies affecting or blocking the normal blood flow in the body.
Colour Doppler test is a type of ultrasound investigation which is non-invasive, painless, and a radiation-free technique used to estimate the velocity and direction of blood flow through the blood vessels in real-time. If there are any problems in the blood flow via blood vessels, they can be detected using Colour Doppler.
Types of Doppler Ultrasound
There are the following types in a Doppler ultrasound study:
- Colour Doppler
- Spectral Doppler
- Power Doppler
- Continuous-wave Doppler
- Duplex Doppler
Applications of Colour Doppler
Colour Doppler ultrasound can be used to examine both arteries and veins due to its dynamic and real-time properties.
Different types of ultrasound techniques are used for various parts of the body, such as:
- Cardiac function analysis in association with electrocardiogram.
- Detection of varicose veins (Venous Doppler).
- Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Checking patency of arterio-venous fistulas in dialysis patients.
- Detection of arterial occlusions in peripheral arterial disease (Arterial Doppler).
- Identification of carotid artery stenosis (Carotid Doppler).
- Assessment of renal artery stenosis in acute hypertension (Renal Doppler).
- Detection of portal vein thrombosis (Portal Doppler).
A Doppler ultrasound is also commonly used during pregnancy to assess uteroplacental or fetoplacental insufficiencies.
Preparation for Colour Doppler
- No special preparation is required for routine Doppler studies such as Obstetric, Carotid, Arterial, or Venous Doppler of extremities.
- Fasting is required for Renal and Portal Doppler. Please call us for detailed instructions.
- Patients are advised to remove jewellery, belts, and accessories before the test.
- It is recommended to bring previous reports for comparison.
