Finding the right tests…
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
Sonography
DOPPLER SINGLE LIMB ARTERIAL& VENOUS combines both halves of a limb vascular check into one sitting, on one arm or leg. It scans the arteries carrying blood into that limb for narrowing or blockage, and separately scans the veins carrying blood back out for a possible clot, rather than sending you for two visits. Your doctor orders this combined version when the symptoms in one limb, such as pain, swelling, or a color change, don't clearly point to only an arterial or only a venous cause. Because it's limited to one limb, it's a narrower study than the both-limb combined version, which covers arteries and veins on both sides.
The scan measures arterial flow into the limb, checking for narrowing or blockage, and separately checks whether the deep veins compress normally and show clear flow, checking for a clot, both in one sitting on the single limb your doctor has specified.
Arterial and venous disease in a limb cause different problems and need different tests to sort out. Arterial narrowing reduces blood supply reaching the hand or foot, often causing pain on exertion. A venous clot blocks blood from draining back out, causing swelling, pain, and warmth. When a patient's symptoms could plausibly fit either picture, ordering both parts of the study together, on the same limb, saves a second visit.
The arterial part traces flow at several points down the limb, reading the pulsing signal that changes shape past a narrowing. The venous part presses the probe against each vein in turn, checking that it collapses fully, since a vein blocked by a clot resists collapsing.
This version stays on one arm or leg, the one your doctor is concerned about. A separate both-limb combined study exists for when arteries and veins on both sides need checking, for example to compare left and right.
Both halves of this scan use sound waves, not X-rays, so neither part involves a radiation dose.
When symptoms in one limb, like pain, swelling, or color change, don't clearly point to just one cause, checking both the arteries and veins in the same visit gives your doctor a fuller picture without a second appointment.
It covers the same ground as a single-limb arterial scan plus a single-limb venous scan, done together in one sitting on the same limb, rather than as two separate bookings.
The arterial part checks blood flowing into your limb through the arteries, looking for narrowing or blockage. The venous part checks blood flowing back out through the veins, looking for a clot. They test different vessels for different problems.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Your doctor has ordered this version because concern is focused on one specific arm or leg. A separate both-limb combined study covers arteries and veins on both sides when that's what's needed.
No. Both the arterial and venous parts use sound waves, not X-rays, so there's no radiation dose from either part of this scan.
It generally takes longer than either scan alone, since two separate vessel systems are being checked in the same limb. Ask the centre what to expect for timing on the day.
There's no single preparation instruction that fits every patient for this scan. Ask your doctor or the centre directly what they'd like you to do beforehand.