What can be checked by carotid artery ultrasound?

Carotid ultrasound is an adjunct test used to check whether the arteries are normal. Carotid ultrasound is one of the effective means to diagnose and evaluate carotid artery wall lesions, and plays a key role in the epidemiological investigation of atherosclerosis and the evaluation of the effectiveness of atherosclerosis prevention and testing. The above instrumental examinations can be used to determine the corresponding symptoms.

Normal value: no thickening of the intima of blood vessels, no plaque formation, no stenosis and no occlusion of blood vessels. Clinically significant abnormal results: Carotid artery ultrasound can not only clearly show whether the intima of the blood vessel is thickened, whether there is plaque formation, the location and size of plaque formation, whether there is vascular stenosis and the degree of stenosis, whether there is occlusion, etc., but also can accurately measure and localize, and can also analyze the hemodynamic results of the detected artery.

In particular, the presence of early carotid atherosclerotic lesions can be detected, so that patients can be prevented in time; The timely diagnosis of moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis and occlusion can be used as a strong basis for the clinical selection of carotid endarterectomy**. People who need to be examined: Patients with cardiovascular disease.

Precautions before the examination: Before the carotid artery color ultrasound examination, no special preparation is generally required, as long as the neck ornaments that will affect the examination can be removed before the examination. If you have just finished strenuous exercise, you need to rest for 5-10 minutes and wait until your breathing and heart rate are relatively stable before checking.

Requirements during the examination: The patient actively cooperates with the doctor's examination, prepares according to the doctor's requirements, and the doctor operates carefully.

The line changes.

Plain x-ray examination (mainly the examination of the functional position of the cervical spine to determine whether there is vertebral segmental instability) can show changes in the physiological curvature of the cervical spine, narrowing of the intervertebral space, osteophytes at the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral body, calcification of the neck ligament, and vertebral body displacement.

2.Digital subtraction angiography DSA technology.

A clear image of the vertebral artery is obtained by digital subtraction imaging by puncture and catheter insertion of the femoral artery and the injection of a small amount of contrast agent.

Imaging techniques. It is of great significance to determine the state of the spinal cord and whether there is variation, symmetry, and inner diameter difference between the two transverse foramina, especially the non-traumatic vertebral artery MR imaging (MRA), which is both safe and diagnostic for the determination of vertebral artery.

4.Other. Including traditional vertebral arteriography, CT examination, etc. can be used as appropriate.

Carotid ultrasonography provides a non-invasive, simple, and reproducible method for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. However, multi-parameter analysis should be advocated in the analysis of test results, and in addition to the flow rate of the relevant vascular segments, the pulsatile index, spectral morphology, blood flow direction and blood flow sound should also be considered. Carotid artery ultrasonography is helpful to determine the nature and stability of carotid atheroplaque in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease, determine the degree of carotid atherosclerosis and carotid artery stenosis, especially in showing the changes in arterial wall structure, and provide an objective basis for the early prevention and improvement of atherosclerosis.