Why Did My Doctor Order a Renal Duplex Ultrasound Scan?

If your doctor recommended a renal duplex ultrasound scan, they’re likely seeking insights into your kidney and vascular health. This high-tech vascular imaging approach offers important information using a noninvasive approach. At Vascular Institute of Virginia in Woodbridge, Fredericksburg, and Fairfax, we offer advanced vascular imaging on-site in our state-of-the-art facilities. In this blog, we explore what renal duplex ultrasound scans are and why they’re such a helpful diagnostic tool.

What Is a Renal Duplex Ultrasound?

A renal duplex ultrasound combines traditional (B-mode) ultrasound with Doppler technology. It creates images of your kidneys and blood vessels and measures how blood flows through these areas. B-mode ultrasound provides detailed images while Doppler ultrasound measures the speed and direction of blood flow. 

A renal duplex ultrasound is a painless, quick, and easy procedure in our state-of-the-art facility.

Why You Might Need a Renal Duplex Ultrasound

Some of the reasons you might need this type of ultrasound are:

• High Blood Pressure: If your doctor suspects that your hypertension is caused by renal artery stenosis (narrowing of the renal arteries), a duplex ultrasound can help confirm the diagnosis. 
• Chronic Kidney Disease: A duplex scan can track blood flow in and out of the kidneys, a critical step for assessing kidney health.
• Kidney Transplant Monitoring: After a kidney transplant, doctors use this type of ultrasound to make sure the new organ is getting adequate blood flow to survive.
• Suspected Blood Clots: The scan can detect narrowing, clots, and blockages in the renal veins, which affects kidney function.

Most people with kidney disease (and those who are at risk for it) have a renal duplex ultrasound at some point. You may need this scan periodically to monitor your kidney health.

Benefits of Renal Duplex Ultrasound

Some of the leading advantages of renal duplex ultrasound are:

• Noninvasive: Radiation-free procedure with no injections needed.
• No Contrast Dye: Unlike CT angiography, it doesn’t require the use of contrast dye. This reduces the risk of complications for patients with pre-existing kidney issues. 
• Accurate: It provides reliable information about your blood vessels without requiring more complex procedures. 

When performed by our leading imaging specialists, this scan is comfortable, safe, and easy.

Renal Duplex Ultrasound in Woodbridge, VA

If your doctor has ordered a renal duplex ultrasound scan, our Vascular Institute of Virginia team is here to help in our locations in Woodbridge, Fairfax, and Fredericksburg. We offer leading-edge solutions to support your vascular and kidney health. Call us today at 703-763-5224 to schedule your scan.