Doppler Ultrasound

Doppler Ultrasound at Methodist Health System

What is Doppler ultrasound?

Doppler ultrasound is used to track the speed of blood flow while imaging the heart and blood vessels.

The test uses sound waves, sent into the body with a handheld device called a transducer that’s about the size of a bar of soap. The transducer is moved back and forth on an area of skin that’s been covered with a lubricating gel. The sound waves bounce off the moving blood cells and return to the transducer. The frequency of the returning sound waves corresponds to the speed of the blood cells as they move through the body. At the same time, the ultrasound waves bouncing off the heart and blood vessels are translated into an image of their structure.

Doppler ultrasound can help uncover:

• Blockages to blood flow, such as blood clots
• Plaque buildup inside blood vessels
• Congenital (present since birth) problems with the structure of the heart or blood vessels

Who needs Doppler ultrasound?

Doppler ultrasound can help a doctor diagnose heart or artery disease and determine if a person is a good candidate for a procedure such as angioplasty.