Understanding Your Venous Duplex Ultrasound Scan
Many patients ask what a venous duplex ultrasound involves. This guide explains what this painless and highly accurate scan includes, helping you feel fully informed and able to focus on the results and advice you receive during your visit to The Vein Clinic in Swindon.
What Is a Venous Duplex Ultrasound?
A duplex scan is a specialised type of ultrasound that uses sound waves to “see” inside your body. A venous duplex ultrasound creates a colour map of the blood flow in your leg(s), allowing us to identify abnormal circulation or venous reflux caused by “leaking valves” in the veins.
A skilled vein specialist must be able to perform their own duplex scan as well as perform the procedure. This is essential for accurately identifying which vein trunks are abnormal and determining the most effective treatment to improve your symptoms and appearance.
Before Your Duplex Scan
No preparation is required for a venous duplex ultrasound. The scan is usually performed during your initial consultation at The Vein Clinic. Some patients bring a spare pair of shorts to make the examination easier.
What Happens During the Scan?
Your scan will be performed either with you lying on the examination table or standing beside it. Warm gel is applied to your leg(s), and a small handheld device called a transducer is placed over different areas to assess blood flow. Your calf muscle may be gently squeezed to simulate how blood moves through your veins.
The sound waves bounce off tissues and moving blood, creating “echoes” that are converted into real‑time images on a monitor. You may hear unusual sounds as the technologist records the blood flow in your leg(s).
Most consultations take around 30–40 minutes. If a full deep vein scan is required (for example, after a DVT), the examination may take longer.
After Your Duplex Scan
There are no special instructions to follow after your scan. Your results will be reviewed and discussed during your appointment. We will explain what the findings mean for your vein health and outline any recommended treatments to address your concerns.