Carotid Doppler (Carotid Ultrasound) at Brentwood Hospital

What is a carotid Doppler?

A carotid Doppler, also called a carotid ultrasound or carotid duplex, uses ultrasound to look at the two main arteries in your neck that carry blood to your brain, face and eyes. The Doppler ultrasound shows the speed and direction of blood flow, which can highlight any narrowing or blockages that could increase your risk of a stroke.

Why might I need a carotid Doppler?

Your doctor may suggest this scan if:

• you've had symptoms that could suggest a stroke or mini-stroke (TIA), such as sudden weakness, vision changes, or difficulty speaking
• your doctor has heard an unusual sound (a bruit) when listening to your neck, or found a pulsing lump there
• you're being assessed before major heart surgery
• your doctor wants to follow up on carotid artery narrowing that's already been found.

What are the benefits of a carotid Doppler?

• It's painless and doesn't use any radiation or needles
• It's a safe and effective way to assess narrowing that could otherwise go unnoticed until a stroke happens
• There's no need to remove clothing, and no special preparation beforehand
• It can be repeated over time to track whether any narrowing is getting better, staying the same, or getting worse.

How do I prepare for a carotid Doppler?

Wear loose, comfortable clothing, ideally without a collar, and leave jewellery at home, so your neck is easy to access. Other than that, you can eat, drink and take your medicines as usual.

What happens during a carotid Doppler?

Here's what typically happens:

1. You lie down on a couch with your head resting on a pillow, turned slightly away from the side being examined.
2. The room lights may be dimmed slightly, to help get the clearest possible images.
3. Gel is applied to your neck, and the person carrying out the scan moves a handheld probe up and down to look along the length of each artery, pressing gently to get a clear picture.
4. You may hear swooshing or whooshing sounds through the machine's speaker. This is just the sound of your blood flow.
5. The scan usually takes around 15 to 30 minutes.

What happens after a carotid Doppler?

You can get dressed and go back to your normal activities straight away, since there's no recovery time needed. The person carrying out the scan may give you a brief comment on the findings and will write a full report for the doctor who referred you.

You won't usually get your full results on the day. You'll normally discuss them in detail at your next appointment, though in rare cases the team may need to discuss an urgent finding with a doctor before you leave.

What are the risks of a carotid Doppler?

There are no known risks. The scan is painless and doesn't involve any radiation, needles or dye.