Venous Duplex Ultrasound

(Venous Duplex Study; B-mode Imaging)

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Definition

An ultrasound uses sound waves to make images of the inside of the body. A venous duplex ultrasound looks at the flow of blood through veins in the arms or legs.

Reasons for Test

The test may be used to:

Look for the cause of arm or leg symptoms, such as:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Increased warmth
- Bulging veins
To diagnose:
- A blood clot, like deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Poor blood flow through veins

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Possible Complications

There are usually no problems from this test.

What to Expect

Prior to Test

Nothing needs to be done before this test.

Description of Test

You will be asked to lie on a table. Gel will be placed on the skin of the arm or leg. It will cover the veins being tested.

The ultrasound machine has a hand-held device. The device will be pushed against the skin where the gel was applied. The device sends sound waves into the body. The waves bounce off structures in the body and echo back to the device. The echoes are made into images that are shown on a screen. The doctor examines the images on the screen. The doctor may take pictures of them as well.

The technologist may push the device firmly or softly against the skin. This is done to see the vein better.

After Test

You can get dressed and go home.

How Long Will It Take?

Usually between 15 to 45 minutes

Will It Hurt?

In general, this test is not painful.

Results

The test results will be sent to a doctor who looks at images. Your doctor will receive the results and discuss them with you.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you have:

Symptoms that do not go away or get worse
Any new symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
https://familydoctor.org

Radiology Info—Radiologic Society of North America
https://www.radiologyinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Cardiovascular Society
http://www.ccs.ca

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt. Accessed September 2, 2021.

Garcia R, Labropoulos N. Duplex ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute and chronic venous diseases. Surg Clin North Am. 2018;98(2):201-218.

Ultrasound—venous (extremities). Radiology Info—Radiological Society of North America website. Available at: https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/venousus. Accessed September 2, 2021.

Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA
Last Updated: 9/2/2021

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.