Venous Doppler ultrasound of the limbs (DVT, varicose veins, CHIVA mapping)

A venous Doppler ultrasound examines the veins of the legs or arms: the deep veins, inside the muscles, and the superficial veins, under the skin. It shows whether a vein is blocked by a clot and whether blood is flowing in the right direction. Depending on the referral, it is performed by a cardiologist, an angiologist (a doctor specialising in blood vessels) or a radiologist. If deep vein thrombosis is suspected (a swollen, painful, warm leg), this test must be done urgently, because a clot can break off and travel to the lungs. It is also used to assess varicose veins before any treatment: it identifies the veins whose valves no longer work (reflux). CHIVA marking is a detailed map of the veins, done standing and then lying down, with marks drawn on the skin with a felt pen; it prepares for vein-sparing varicose vein surgery (the CHIVA method) and is done shortly before the operation. When the doctor requests it, the arteries and veins of the same limb can be examined in the same session (arterial and venous Doppler).