Vascular Doppler Assessment

What is a Vascular Doppler Assessment?

A vascular Doppler can be used to check whether blood flow is present in a blood vessel at a specific location. A small ultrasound probe is placed on the skin. The movement of the blood is detected by the device and represented as an audible signal. [1]

The examination is painless, non-invasive and does not involve radiation. [1]

Why is Doppler used for wounds?

Good blood circulation is an important requirement for wound healing. If the blood supply to a leg or foot is reduced, a wound may heal more slowly or may not heal properly. [2, 3]

In chronic or poorly healing wounds, a vascular Doppler assessment can therefore help identify signs of a possible circulation problem. It may, for example, be used for wounds on the lower leg or foot. [2, 3]

How is the examination performed?

A small amount of ultrasound gel is applied to the skin. The Doppler probe is then placed at the appropriate locations. The device makes the blood flow audible.

The examination can be performed on both arteries and, with a suitable probe, veins. [1]

What happens if a finding is abnormal?

The main purpose of the Doppler is to identify possible circulation problems at an early stage. An abnormal or unclear finding does not automatically mean that a specific vascular disease is present.

If an abnormal finding is detected, medical or vascular assessment is recommended. Further examination, such as duplex ultrasound, may then be necessary to assess the blood vessels in greater detail. [2, 3]

Vascular Doppler Assessment at WundPal

At WundPal, vascular Doppler assessment may be part of wound assessment when there are signs of reduced blood flow or when a wound is not healing as expected.

The results are always considered together with the wound appearance and other clinical findings. If there are signs of a possible circulation problem, further medical assessment is recommended.

The Vascular Doppler Device Used by WundPal

For mobile vascular Doppler assessments, WundPal uses the EDAN SonoTrax Basic A. The compact Doppler device can be used with suitable vascular probes to assess arterial and venous blood flow. [1]

Scientific Sources