Venous Ultrasound in Houston, TX
Venous Ultrasound Procedures
At Premier Vein and Vascular Center, our specialists may recommend that you undergo a venous ultrasound if you have a vein or vascular disorder or are at risk for deep vein thrombosis. The procedure is noninvasive and painless, using harmless sound waves to create images of your veins and detect the presence of blood clots. Undergoing a venous ultrasound can help us better understand venous and vascular conditions that could be affecting your health. We use this procedure to diagnose you with a venous disease or vascular disorder and to design your treatment plan. Call to schedule a venous ultrasound in Houston, TX.
What Is a Venous Ultrasound?
A venous ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive, and painless procedure that uses ultrasound imaging to see inside your blood vessels. The procedure uses sound waves to create images of your veins and detect blood clots or blockages. We use venous ultrasounds to check for or diagnose venous diseases and other issues that affect your blood vessels. There are three types of venous ultrasound procedures:
- Venous Reflux Ultrasound – A venous reflux ultrasound assesses the function of the valves in your vein and is used to diagnose venous insufficiency.
- Venous Doppler Ultrasound – A venous Doppler ultrasound measures the blood flow in the veins and evaluates the movement of materials through the arteries and veins.
- Venous Duplex Ultrasound—A venous duplex ultrasound combines a B-mode and Doppler ultrasound and detects vein narrowing, blood clots, artery blockages, and abnormalities.
Why Is a Venous Ultrasound Needed?
A venous ultrasound is used to check for signs of blood clots or blockages in the veins, typically the veins in the leg. It can be used to diagnose deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, and chronic venous insufficiency. It can also be used to determine the cause of leg swelling, leg pain, and edema in the legs and ankles or to design a treatment plan for the removal of damaged veins.
Common Conditions Diagnosed Through a Venous Ultrasound
We can use a venous ultrasound to diagnose, evaluate, and plan treatment of blood vessel issues, blood clots, and blockages of the veins. We can diagnose:
- Blood Clots – Abnormal formations of semi-solid blood cells, platelets, and proteins that block veins and can migrate to the lungs, brain, or heart.
- Varicose Veins – Damaged blood vessels or faulty valves in the vein that cause swelling or bulging of the veins.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – A blood clot located in a deep vein that can migrate to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency – A venous disease that occurs when the veins cannot effectively move blood back to the heart. The blood may flow backward and pool in the veins.
Symptoms Indicating the Need for a Venous Ultrasound
There are certain symptoms of a venous or vascular condition that can be diagnosed with a venous ultrasound. Please contact your primary care physician or our office if you have:
- Chronic or worsening leg pain, particularly in the lower leg or above the ankle.
- Severe, worsening pain after an injury to the leg at or below the knee.
- Skin discoloration on the leg.
- Varicose or spider veins on the leg.
- Leg pain that gets worse when you stand and gets better when you elevate your leg.
- Veins that feel hard.
- Redness and/or warmth of the skin on the leg.
- Skin below the knee and above the ankle that is tight, shiny, flaky, or warm.
- Leg sores that don’t heal.
- A burning feeling in one or both legs.
- Muscle weakness or atrophy in one leg.
What to Expect During a Venous Ultrasound of Your Legs
The ultrasound machine includes a computer, video monitor, and a wand-like device called a transducer. This is a small, hand-held device that we will use to send high-frequency sound waves into your body. You will roll your pant legs up or put on a medical gown and lie on our exam table. We will first apply some cool gel to the area we will examine. We will then place the transducer there and apply moderate pressure while moving the transducer around. You may feel mild tenderness or discomfort. We can see images created by the ultrasound on our monitor and can transmit these images electronically or print them out for review. The entire exam may take 30-45 minutes, and in some cases, we may have you wait in the office to get your results.
Benefits of Undergoing a Venous Ultrasound
A venous ultrasound is a safe, painless, and risk-free procedure. The benefits of undergoing a venous ultrasound are:
- Faster diagnosis of venous diseases and issues that affect the health of your blood vessels and veins.
- No need for invasive procedures.
- The procedure is safe and doesn’t require the use of radiation.
- We obtain a clear image of your veins and blood vessels.
- We can locate and diagnose blood clots and blockages.
- We can reduce your risk of a blood clot migrating to your lungs.
Schedule a Venous Ultrasound Today
Call or contact us online at Premier Vein and Vascular Center to schedule a venous ultrasound in Houston, TX. We offer diagnostic testing to determine if you have a vein or vascular disorder, such as venous insufficiency or deep vein thrombosis. Our state-of-the-art venous ultrasound can provide a swift diagnosis.