This is an essential tool to the monitoring of the heart and the heart’s processes. The abdominal aortic duplex is simply an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity that produces images of the body’s internal structures through the use of high-frequency sound waves, the echoes of which are used to create moving and still images. All images appear in “real” time as soon as the machine is turned on, and the transducer (a handheld device that sends and receives sound waves) placed on the body.
What is the abdominal aorta?
The abdominal aorta is the artery that runs through the middle of the abdomen, supplying blood to the lower half of the body. It can develop an aneurysm, which is a localized, balloon-like expansion caused by having weak walls.
If Dr. Kohani believes you may be having an aneurysm then an abdominal aortic ultrasound is performed. Detecting an abdominal aortic aneurysm is crucial because, if it ruptures, blood spills into the abdominal cavity, and death can result within a number of minutes.
Who needs an abdominal aortic ultrasound?
Those with a history of or those with chronic:
- History of atherosclerosis
- High blood pressure
- Aneurysm, in another artery
- Chronic lung disease
