Perhaps we are all familiar with ultrasound in the form that is used to test during pregnancy or to detect kidney stones in the urinary tract. However, ultrasound can also be used to test for many other types of diseases, and one of these tests is the carotid duplex ultrasound, which is a test of the blood vessels inside the neck.
This test is performed to determine the likelihood of illness resulting from blood vessel stenosis or occlusion, which can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, paralysis, hemiparesis and stroke, all of which are associated with stenosis or occlusion in the carotid arteries that prevent unhindered blood supply to the brain.
Carotid duplex ultrasound is performed by a doctor or a nurse who uses ultrasound to test the carotid artery in the neck on both sides. These arteries are the primary channels by which blood is supplied to both hemispheres of the brain, so if they become narrowed or obstructed, brain function can be affected. Once there is reduced blood supply, the patient can develop hemiparesis, temporary blindless or other brain symptoms.
Obstruction can be caused by build-up of plaque, lipids and blood clots from the heart, so doctors will use ultrasound to check the arterial walls along with the speed of blood flow in order to identify the site of narrowing or accumulation in the arterial walls. This procedure can predict problems related to obstruction or lipid build-up in the arteries that lead to the brain.
Because human blood vessels are like water pipes that deliver water to different locations, whenever these pipes are obstructed by contaminants accumulating along their walls in any particular section, these residues can become dislodged and flow along the pipes, eventually leading to build-up or obstruction at the ends of the pipes, which in this case are our own cerebral arteries.
If we discover stenosis or build-up in the arterial walls of the patient through this test, it is possible that the patient’s blood vessels in the brain also have problems. As a result, carotid duplex ultrasound is a very popular test, since it is easy to perform while being low-cost and can be performed repeatedly without creating any danger. Moreover, it has a satisfactory level of effectiveness that enables doctors to properly diagnose and treat conditions.
