Carotid artery plaques are thickening of blood vessel walls and aggregation of plaques in the blood that form within the carotid artery. This type of plaque can cause blood flow obstruction or embolism, leading to serious complications such as stroke. Therefore, early detection and diagnosis of carotid plaque is very important to prevent and control the development of cardiovascular disease. Medical ultrasound scanner is a commonly used non-invasive examination tool that can help doctors accurately examine carotid artery plaques. This article will introduce how to use a medical ultrasound scanner for this examination.
Firstly, before performing a carotid ultrasound scan, the doctor will prepare a medical ultrasound scanner. This device generates images by transmitting high-frequency sound waves into the human body without causing any harm to the human body. Ultrasonic scanners typically consist of a host, probe, and display screen. The host is used to control and process scanning data, the probe is responsible for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals, and the display screen is used to display scanning results.
Next, the doctor will make the patient lie down and turn their head to the side being examined to expose the neck. The doctor will apply a layer of gel on the neck, which helps to transmit sound signals and reduce air interference. Then, the doctor will gently place the probe in a specific position on the neck and perform a scan.
When performing ultrasound scans, doctors use a method called Doppler technology. This technology can observe the flow of blood within blood vessels, helping doctors evaluate blood flow velocity and direction. In order to obtain clearer and more accurate images, doctors may require patients to perform some movements, such as deep breathing or lifting their arms.
During the scanning process, the doctor will move the probe and adjust the device parameters to ensure comprehensive scanning results. The doctor will closely observe the images displayed on the screen and record any abnormalities. Usually, carotid artery plaques will appear as thickening of the blood vessel wall or echogenicity in the blood. The doctor will also notice whether the blood flow direction is normal and whether the blood flow speed is abnormal.
Once the scan is completed, the doctor will evaluate it based on the scan results. If carotid artery plaques are found, doctors will develop further treatment plans based on the nature and severity of the plaques. Some plaques can be controlled through medication, while other severe plaques may require surgical intervention.
Overall, using a medical ultrasound scanner to examine carotid artery plaques is a non-invasive and safe examination method. Through this method, doctors can detect the presence of carotid artery plaques early and take corresponding treatment measures. However, it should be noted that ultrasound scanning is only an auxiliary tool, and the final diagnostic result needs to comprehensively consider the patient's symptoms, signs, and other examination results. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that professional doctors perform the operation and interpret the results when receiving ultrasound scans.
