Purpose of ultrasound of blood vessels in the neck

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Hong Hai - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Ultrasound of the blood vessels in the neck often has the main purpose of ultrasound of the carotid arteries, because the carotid artery has a very important role in the supply of oxygen-rich blood in the human brain. Therefore, diseases that cause damage to the carotid arteries often lead to many dangerous diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke,...

Cervical vascular ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses ultrasound waves to create images of the neck. Ultrasound of the blood vessels in the neck often has the main purpose of ultrasound of the carotid arteries, because the carotid artery has a very important role in the supply of oxygen-rich blood in the human brain. In particular, the diseases that damage the carotid arteries often lead to many dangerous diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke,...
After the ultrasound, the ultrasound image of the blood vessels will support the doctor. detection of atherosclerotic plaques in the lumen of the carotid artery. Atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery can be cholesterol, calcium, ... long-term accumulation causes narrowing of the carotid artery, obstructing blood flow to the brain, thereby increasing the risk of stroke.
Therefore, cervical vascular ultrasound can help detect carotid atherosclerosis early for timely treatment.

The neck vascular ultrasound technique is quite safe and especially painless. This technique is applied in supporting the diagnosis of carotid artery diseases. Therefore, the doctor may order to perform an ultrasound of the neck vessels in the following cases:
The patient has a history of stroke or recent minor strokes, some signs of a minor stroke are the patient Some or all of the symptoms of a stroke are present, but these usually disappear within 24 hours. On examination, the doctor heard a carotid murmur, so he ordered an ultrasound of the carotid artery. An abnormal carotid murmur can be a sign of a carotid artery blockage causing a stroke. When the doctor suspects that the carotid artery wall is delaminated or has weakened, affecting blood flow to the brain. Besides, cervical vascular ultrasound can also be indicated in the case of checking the patient's recovery after surgery on coronary artery, aorta, carotid artery or peripheral artery,... In some cases, cervical vascular ultrasound is performed for subjects over 70 years old with underlying diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure or dyslipidemia,... by the subjects. This has a high risk of stroke.

Cervical vascular ultrasound is a painless imaging technique for patients. The cervical vascular ultrasound procedure usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Steps to perform cervical vascular ultrasound are as follows:
Step 1: Before conducting cervical vascular ultrasound, it is necessary to prepare an ultrasound room with full ultrasound machines and equipment. The sonographer should check the operation of the ultrasound machine before the ultrasound and instruct the patient to lie on his or her back with the chin slightly raised to facilitate the neck ultrasound. Step 2: The doctor applies a layer of gel to the patient's neck to help the transducer move easily and support the best sound waves to the artery. Then, the doctor scans the transducer on the gel layer, the ultrasound waves emitted from the transducer will travel to the artery and then reflect the images and display the results on a computer screen. Step 3: After completing the exploration, instruct the patient to wipe off the gel and be able to return to normal activities. Based on the ultrasound images, the doctor will make a conclusion about the condition of the blood vessels in the patient's neck. In case of need for treatment, the doctor will give the most appropriate advice to the patient.

In summary, cervical vascular ultrasound is a way to help detect and diagnose some diseases that cause damage to the carotid arteries quickly and effectively. If you suspect that you have the disease, you can come to Vinmec International General Hospital System for examination. As one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, Vinmec uses the most modern generations of color ultrasound machines today in examining and treating patients. One of them is GE Healthcarecar's Logig E9 ultrasound machine with full options, HD resolution probes for clear images, accurate assessment of lesions. In addition, a team of experienced doctors and nurses will greatly assist in the diagnosis and early detection of abnormal signs of the body in order to provide timely treatment.