What to Expect During a Lower Extremity Venous Ultrasound

Enlarged leg veins and swelling aren’t a typical part of aging. If you have these symptoms or persistent leg pain, you may need a lower extremity venous ultrasound.

At Parkview Cardiology in New York City, we offer comprehensive vascular studies, including lower extremity venous ultrasounds, to identify conditions such as venous insufficiency before more serious symptoms develop.

Board-certified cardiologist Kedar Sankholkar, MD, MS, FACC, uses advanced technology to assess vein health and identify appropriate treatments. He also customizes care plans to ease pain and other symptoms, helping you stay active and avoid further complications.

Why you might need a lower extremity venous ultrasound

A lower extremity venous ultrasound is a noninvasive procedure that assesses blood circulation through the veins in your lower extremities. It helps diagnose conditions such as:

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when leg veins struggle to send blood back to the heart. The condition results from dysfunctional valves allowing blood to flow backward and pool in the vein, causing enlargement and varicose veins.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis develops when a blood clot forms in a vein deep within the thigh or leg. The clot cuts off blood flow through the legs and can ultimately break off, traveling to the lungs and resulting in a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.

If you have persistent leg pain, swelling, or vein enlargement, Dr. Sankholkar may recommend a lower extremity ultrasound to confirm or rule out venous insufficiency and deep vein thrombosis.

What to expect during a lower extremity venous ultrasound

A lower extremity ultrasound is a noninvasive test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of your leg veins.

The images help Dr. Sankholkar see blood clots and other blockages in the vessels that compromise blood flow. He can also identify faulty valves that interfere with blood circulation.

During a lower extremity venous ultrasound, we have you lie comfortably on an exam table. We apply a gel on the surface of your skin before placing a hand-held transducer on the area.

The transducer sends sound waves into the leg tissue to create images of your veins. Dr. Sankholkar evaluates the pictures to identify problem areas. He may recommend additional tests to confirm the diagnosis or discuss treatment options.

Treatment options for CVI and DVT

In the early stages of venous insufficiency, you can prevent complications by engaging in daily exercise, following a heart-healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

We recommend compression stockings to improve blood flow and reduce leg swelling. Dr. Sankholkar may also prescribe blood-thinning medications to prevent clotting, especially if you’re at risk of DVT.

If clots are present in the deep veins of your legs, you may need a procedure to break up or remove them. 

When you have varicose veins that are large or painful, Dr. Sankholkar may recommend sclerotherapy, an injectable that uses a chemical agent to collapse a damaged vein, or surgery to remove damaged veins.

Call Parkview Cardiology in the Midtown West neighborhood of Manhattan today to learn more about the diagnostic benefits of a lower extremity venous ultrasound, or request your appointment online.