WHAT IS A LOWER EXTREMITY ARTERIAL DUPLEX?
Lower extremity arterial duplex is a painless exam that uses
high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to capture internal images of
the major arteries in the arms, legs, and neck. A special jelly is placed on
the area being examined while a wand-like device called a transducer is
passed lightly over the skin above the artery. Internal images of arteries
are shown on a screen and can be recorded as a video and printed as a
photo.
A Doppler ultrasound may also be performed to capture images of the
movement of blood through your arteries. This test helps to determine
how the blood is flowing through your arteries. Arterial duplex can show
plaque built up in arteries to help detect peripheral vascular disease (PVD).