Such a symptom as a headache is familiar to everyone.Often the cause of its appearance are vascular diseases. In most cases, they develop in middle and old age. Due to insufficient blood supply to the brain, signs of ischemia develop. These include: memory impairment, decreased performance, sleep disturbance. In order to diagnose ischemia, dopplerography of the brain and neck vessels (USDG) is performed. Among them are large arteries and veins, originating from the aortic arch. Currently, USDG is performed in almost all clinics. This study is not harmful to health and painless.
What is vascular Doppler?
Doppler ultrasound (USDG) is performedfor examining veins or arteries. Most often, thanks to this method, I diagnose pathology of the vessels of the lower and upper extremities, as well as the head and neck. This study can be carried out in patients of any age. There are practically no contraindications to doppler sonography. It can be carried out to infants and pregnant women. Dopplerography of cerebral and neck vessels is an instrumental method of investigation based on determining the speed of blood flow. Thanks to this diagnostic procedure, it is possible to identify how affected the arteries and veins are, the degree of narrowing of their lumen.
Doppler sonography: the essence of the method
When prescribing this diagnostic method,patients are interested in: "What is doppler sonography?". You should know that this procedure is necessary to assess the condition of the vessels. It is held in conjunction with ultrasound (UZDG). With the help of Doppler, you can find out:
- The speed and direction of blood flow. Often, with the pathologies of the arteries and veins, it is slowed down or accelerated, twisted.
- The state of the vessels.Thanks to the USDG is determined by obturation of the lumen of the arteries or veins by atherosclerotic plaques, thrombus, etc. In addition, this method allows to determine the weakness of the vascular valve apparatus.
The essence of the study is to scanarterial or venous system. The image appears on the monitor. Distinguish duplex and triplex scanning of blood vessels. In the first variant, it is possible to assess the state of the endothelium and the lumen of the arteries of the head and neck. Triplex scanning is more complicated. With its help, a color image of the vascular system is obtained. This improves visualization, and also makes it possible to assess the state of the blood flow.
Ways of Doppler
USDG (Doppler blood vessels) of the head and neckcarried out in several ways. Each of them is effective in diagnosing certain diseases. The choice of the method of dopplerography depends on which part of the vascular bed is to be investigated. Thus, allocate:
- Каротидную ультрасонографию.With the help of a special device, vessels in the neck area are examined. This method of visualization is most common. It is used in cases of suspected neurological diseases associated with malnutrition of the brain. The vessels of the neck are located superficially, the largest of them are carotid arteries. Carotid ultrasonography is indicated for dizziness, fainting, worsening of sleep and memory, and neurological symptoms.
- Transcranial duplex scanning.The sensor is located in the occipital, temporal and temporal areas. In this way, doppler head is performed. Thanks to this method, the anterior, posterior, middle and vertebral artery are examined. Also, in a similar way, it is possible to estimate the state of the direct sine, veins of Galen and Rosenthal.
- Transorbital scan. The sensor is installed on the upper eyelid. Using this access, blood flow in the suprablacial and orbital arteries is evaluated.
Indications for Doppler
Dopplerography of brain and neck vesselscarried out in case of suspected circulatory disorders. Chronic ischemia is manifested by symptoms such as impaired memory, sleep, mental and nervous disorders. In acute circulatory disorders, the development of convulsive syndrome, loss of consciousness, paresis or paralysis of the extremities is possible. There are the following indications for carrying out USDG of the arteries of the head and neck:
- Transient ischemic attack.
- Stroke.
- Encephalopathy.
- Condition after acute violation of cerebral circulation.
- Suspected aneurysm or vascular malformation.
- Dizziness and fainting of unknown etiology.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Visual impairment: hemianopsia, diplopia, the appearance of cattle.
Dopplerography during pregnancy is notcontraindicated. In some cases, this research method is prescribed for suspected violation of the placental circulation. USDG of veins and arteries of the brain and neck to pregnant women is carried out in the presence of the above pathologies.
In what cases dopplerography is contraindicated?
The main advantage of Doppler is consideredno contraindications to the study. In fact, the USDDG is a completely harmless procedure. It can be carried out at any age, even in the presence of chronic diseases. Nevertheless, there are cases when it is not recommended to perform dopplerography. The relative contraindications include severe conditions in which the patient is difficult to be in a horizontal position. This can be observed with attacks of bronchial obstruction (COPD, asthma), acute heart and respiratory failure.
Preparation for Doppler Head and Neck Vascular Imaging
Doppler blood vessels of the brain and neck are notrequires special training. However, before conducting this study, laboratory diagnostics are performed. When a patient complains of headache, sleep disturbance, vision, memory loss, first of all tests are prescribed. Among them are KLA, OAM, blood biochemistry, coagulogram. If the laboratory data do not indicate the cause of the onset of these symptoms, it is necessary to carry out the USDG of the neck and head vessels. Before carrying out Doppler, you must remove the jewelry. The diagnostic method is not accompanied by radiation load on the body. If dopplerography is required during pregnancy, it should be explained to the woman that this procedure is not dangerous for the fetus.
Survey technique
Независимо от выбора доступа, положение пациента - lying on his back. When performing carotid ultrasonography, you must turn your head to the right or left and slightly tilt it back. The sensor is installed in the area of large and medium vessels. Before proceeding to the study, the surface of the neck is smeared with an acoustic gel, which is necessary for sliding the device and improving visualization. After that, the device is moved along the skin, while an image of arteries and veins appears on the screen.
With transcranial duplex and triplexscanning examine the vessels in the cranial cavity and outside it. For this, the patient is asked to take a sitting position. In order to assess the state of the cerebral arteries, the sensor is installed first anteriorly and then above and behind the auricle. Examination of the direct sinus, Rozenthal and Galen veins, parabasilar and cerebellar vessels is possible when the device is moved to the occipital region. The vertebral artery can be visualized in two ways: using transcranial scanning or carotid sonography.
The examination of the vascular organs of vision is carried out inlying position. In this case, the eyelids of the patient should be closed. In addition, a siphon of the internal carotid artery is visualized using transorbital access.
Doppler results of head and neck vessels
After conducting research, it is necessary to evaluateresults and compare the data obtained with the norm. Carotid ultrasonography is performed to assess the shape of the vessels, their location, thickness, and lumen status. Also determine the diastolic and systolic peak velocity of blood flow in the carotid arteries. Normally, it should not exceed 0.9. If this figure is close to 1.5, then the narrowing of the vessel lumen is about 50%. With complete obstruction of the artery, the peak velocity is not detected (equal to 0). This condition occurs in thrombosis or vessel embolism and can be fatal. The narrowing of the lumen is observed in atherosclerosis. This disease is common among the elderly and often causes the development of dyscirculatory encephalopathy, as well as an acute violation of cerebral circulation.
With duplex or triplex colorscan, in addition to these indicators, estimated possible changes in blood flow (speed, direction). It is also possible to visualize the degree of filling of the vessels. Information about the weakness of the venous valves can be obtained when performing functional tests (ask the patient to take a sip, change the position of the body).
USDG of the vessels of the head and neck: the price of the procedure
Doppler is performed in most clinics,having a department or cabinets of functional diagnostics. Before you come for an examination, you must pre-register for the USDG of the vessels of the head and neck. The price of this procedure will depend on the choice of clinic. On average, it is 2300-3500 rubles. It is advisable to have a referral to study. In some clinics, Doppler sonography of the neck and head vessels is done both separately and together. Price depends on it. The cost of USDG of the neck vessels (or head) ranges from 1,100 to 1,800 rubles.
Doctors reviews about dopplerography
According to doctors, Doppler blood vesselsis a standard in the diagnosis of brain diseases. The advantages of this method in its security and high information content. In addition, there are no contraindications to the conduct of UZDG. SPB (St. Petersburg) is a city in which there are many clinics with equipped radiology rooms. Doppler sonography of the head and neck vessels can be done in medical centers: Lakhta, MEDEM, Energo, Longevity, etc.
