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Arms & legs

Upper & lower extremity arterial duplex

Following the arteries down an arm or leg.

Arterial duplex ultrasound evaluates the arteries in an arm or leg. Images and Doppler measurements help the interpreting clinician assess narrowing, blockage, and blood-flow patterns along the limb.

What it looks for

  • Narrowing or blockage along the arteries of the limb
  • Flow speeds that jump at a specific point
  • The shape of the waveform above and below each level
  • Whether a bypass graft or stent is still open

Step by step

What to expect.

View the exam animation or select a stage to learn more.

SKINSAMPLE GATELIMB ARTERYVELOCITY OVER TIME

Interactive walkthrough

Step 1 of 4

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Exam information

Common questions.

Additional information about the procedure and your visit.

How is the scan performed?

The sonographer applies gel and moves a handheld ultrasound transducer over the skin to obtain images and blood-flow measurements.

What do the screen colors show?

The color display represents blood-flow direction relative to the transducer. The clinician interprets it together with the images and Doppler measurements.

How will I receive my results?

A clinician reviews the images and measurements to prepare a report. The practice will publish its results and report-delivery process before appointments become available.

Getting ready

Before you come in.

Often no special preparation.

Instructions sent with your appointment take priority over anything on this page, even where the two differ.

Afterwards

When it is over.

The gel is wiped off, and most patients go straight back to their usual activities with no recovery time and no restrictions.

The practice will publish who interprets the study and how results are shared after its reporting workflow is approved.

Next study

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