Venous Ultrasound: Legs Ultrasound is the use of high-frequency sound waves to image organs and other structures inside the body. A hand held device, called a transducer, is placed onto the skin surface near the area of interest, and sends out sound waves and “listens” as the sound waves bounce off objects and return to the transducer. Sound waves are then converted into an image that is seen on the ultrasound machine. This image can be frozen and stored for diagnostic use. At Sparrow Hospital, all transducers are high-resolution to ensure the most detailed and diagnostic image. One of the greatest benefits of Ultrasound imaging is that there are no known health risks. A venous ultrasound checks the deep veins in your legs. This exam includes the use of a highly specialized program called Doppler ultrasound that uses color imaging to evaluate blood flow. There are many reasons to perform to perform venous ultrasound. Some of the common reasons include: To find the source of swelling in an extremity, especially the legs. To locate blood clots. To search for both narrowing of blood vessels, and bulges in the walls of the blood vessels. To identify tumors or masses. To prepare for the Venous Ultrasound you may be asked to remove the lower half of your clothes and change into a gown or cover up with a sheet or blanket. During the ultrasound exam, a gel is placed on the skin near the area of interest. The transducer is then placed directly onto the gel and moved around to obtain the necessary images. The gel acts as a conductor allowing the sound waves to penetrate into the body. The gel is water-soluble and non-irritating to the skin. This procedure can provide valuable information about your blood vessels. When the technologist has completed all the necessary scans and images, the exam is complete. Once the exam is complete, a preliminary report will be phoned to the physician’s office ordering the exam. After consulting with that office you will be notified of your results and be given follow-up instructions. A final report will be generated in 48 hours and sent to your physician. If you need to take copies of the ultrasound exam to your doctor, films can be obtained at our centralized Film Library. If you have any questions, please contact our Ultrasound Department in the Sparrow Professional Building at 517.364.5645. The Sparrow Radiology Ultrasound Department is accredited by the American College of Radiology and all sonographers are registered as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. For more information about the field of Ultrasound, visit American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.