Duplex Ultrasound

Duplex ultrasound allows a physician to gather information not just about structures in the body, but also how blood moves through blood vessels by combining regular ultrasound with Doppler ultrasound. Doppler ultrasound is capable of analyzing sound waves that are emitted and then bounce back from moving red blood cells. This information is interpreted by a computer to show the speed at which blood cells are moving through a blood vessel.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Ultrasound and Duplex Ultrasound

The following questions can help you talk to your physician about an ultrasound test and duplex ultrasound. Print out or write down these questions and take them with you to your appointment. Taking notes can help you remember your physician’s response when you get home.

Ultrasound

• What symptoms or test results indicated that an ultrasound test might be beneficial?
• What will the ultrasound test tell us about the health of my blood vessels or kidneys?
• What happens next if the ultrasound test identifies a possible problem?

Duplex ultrasound

• What symptoms or test results indicated that it might be beneficial to assess the speed at which blood cells are moving through my blood vessel?
• What will the duplex ultrasound test tell us about the health of my blood vessels?
• What happens next if the duplex ultrasound test identifies a possible problem?

Please print this list of questions here. Take them with you to the doctor and share them with friends and loved ones when you are encouraging them to see their doctors.