Varicose veins may often bulge above the skin, but they also have deeper branches we can’t see with the naked eye. Additionally, clots, valve malfunctions, and other irregularities aren’t easily visible, if at all. A venous ultrasound scan lets us see all of these issues and take the necessary steps, as well as determine and treat the full scope of the varicose vein.
What is a venous ultrasound scan?
Ultrasound uses oscillating sound waves. These pass harmlessly through the skin and then bounce off tissue, bone, blood vessels, and organs to create a visual of internal systems.
Ultrasound is a non-radiation diagnostic method, so it’s safe to use on pretty much any patient, including pregnant or lactating ones.
As a vein clinic, we use something called a duplex and triplex scan, which combines Pulse Wave, Colour Doppler, and B-mode ultrasound to create a clear image of the venous system. B-mode imaging provides a two-dimensional grayscale image that helps visualise soft tissues, like vein walls. Doppler, meanwhile, offers insights into blood flow and movement.
As we scan your veins, we can see if there are any blockages or valve malfunctions that may be contributing to uncomfortable symptoms and bulging veins. It also lets us see much deeper trunk veins, which, if malfunctioning, may be contributing to superficial varicosities.
What are you assessing during the scan?
Our sonographers focus on a few key areas:
- Checking deep veins of the lower limbs. These are vessels located deep in the muscles of the legs and thighs that provide the main outflow of blood from the legs to the heart, accounting for about 90% of all venous circulation. These veins are never specifically targeted during our treatment. However, we check them every time to exclude thrombosis and post-thrombotic changes.
- Deeper and/or higher superficial vein branches to assess where the malfunction originated and see if there are any other varicosities we need to address.
- Blood flow through the veins. Specifically, our sonographers look for signs of insufficiency, where the blood slips backwards through the vein valves.
Based on the scan, we create an accurate map of your vein system, letting us determine which treatment would be best for you and if you need one to begin with.
When should I get scanned?
You should consult a specialist if you notice bulging veins, especially if they come with symptoms of pain, itching, swelling, or heaviness in your legs. In some cases, you may have such symptoms without visible bulging. This could indicate a varicosity in the saphenous veins, which sit in their own muscular compartment and thus can’t pop out as veins in other areas do.
Why do you use ultrasound in varicose vein treatment?
Ultrasound allows us to conduct precise treatments, thereby giving patients like you the best possible results. It lets us see veins we couldn’t otherwise, and thus seal off the full varicose vein and its branches. Getting the full vein is essential. If we don’t, you may soon get more varicosities in the area as pressure from malfunctions builds again.
Ultrasound also makes treatment safer, as we can clearly see where we’re injecting sclerosant solution and how laser fibres and mechanochemical catheter heads travel through the vein and seal it.
How can I rely on your ultrasound scans?
Our sonographers and doctors have the education and experience to conduct these scans. For example, our sonographer, Dina, has a degree in Surgery and Ultrasound Diagnostics and worked in a diagnostic clinic before joining us.
Additionally, The Vein Institute is fully accredited under the Diagnostic Imaging Scheme (DIAS), which ensures patient safety and quality of care.
On top of that, we use high-frequency Venous Troplex Ultrasound. We use this advanced form of sonography because it provides a more accurate picture of diseased veins. It gives us the information we need to prescribe the most effective treatment.
Seek specialist advice
If you have bulging veins and/or leg pain, itchiness, swelling, and heaviness, it’s best to seek specialist advice and get yourself scanned. Early diagnosis and treatment will reduce symptoms, improve leg appearance, and reduce the risk of some dangerous complications like deep vein thrombosis, stasis dermatitis, and venous ulcers.
Book your consultation today: 0420 102 637