Vein Doctors Sydney

Vein Specialists for the Northern Beaches and North Shore

Vein ultrasound

Venous duplex ultrasound

A venous duplex ultrasound is a painless scan of the leg veins. It shows how blood flows through them, finds faulty valves and blood clots, and maps exactly where varicose veins come from. It is the first step before any vein treatment.

Bulk billed with a GP referralReport to your GP the same dayManly and St Leonards

Book a scan

Send us your details and we’ll call you to book, or call us on (02) 9023 9970.

Not for urgent medical concerns. In an emergency, call 000.

What it shows

What a venous duplex scan looks for

“Duplex” means the scan combines two kinds of ultrasound: a picture of the veins, and Doppler, which measures the direction and speed of blood flow.

Faulty valves (reflux)
Whether blood is flowing backwards in the great or small saphenous veins and their branches, the usual cause of varicose veins.
Where varicose veins come from
A map of the faulty veins, so treatment closes the source and not just the veins you can see.
Blood clots
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and superficial thrombophlebitis. About phlebitis
The deep veins
Damage or narrowing from a previous clot, which affects which treatments are suitable.
After treatment
A follow-up scan checks that a treated vein has closed. Follow-up scans are bulk billed.
Your scan

What happens during the scan

Your scan is done by Patrick Webb, our sonographer, or by Dr Ryan McConnell, interventional radiologist. It is painless, with no needles or radiation.

Venous duplex ultrasound of the leg veins with the patient standing
01
Before your scan
No special preparation. Wear clothing that is easy to remove from the legs, such as shorts or a skirt. Allow about 30 minutes for one leg and 45 minutes for both.
02
Lying down
Warm gel is put on the skin and the probe is moved along the veins from the groin to the ankle.
03
Standing up
Part of the scan is done standing, as faulty valves show up best when you are upright. The calf is gently squeezed to test how the valves respond.
04
Your results
The report is sent to your referring GP the same day. If you are also seeing Dr McConnell, he goes through the results with you.
Other vein scans

Other vein scans we do

Ultrasound room at Vein Doctors Sydney, Manly
Suspected DVT
Same-day scans are available for a suspected deep vein thrombosis. Ask your GP to refer you and call us to book. If you have chest pain, sudden shortness of breath or are coughing up blood, call 000.
Pelvic venous ultrasound
A longer, detailed scan of the veins in the pelvis, used for vulval varicose veins and pelvic vein problems. It is privately billed, with a Medicare rebate. About vulvar varicosities
Follow-up after treatment
A scan after vein treatment to check the result. It is bulk billed.
Cost and referral

Cost and referral

You can book a scan on its own, without seeing Dr McConnell. We prefer you have a GP referral, so the report goes to a doctor who knows you and can act on the findings.

With a GP referral
Bulk billed
With a Medicare card, there is nothing to pay for a leg vein scan. The report goes to your GP the same day.
Without a referral
Private fee
A private fee applies, with no Medicare rebate. Ask us for the current fee when you book.

GPs can find referral details on our information for doctors page.

Questions

Common questions

No. You feel the probe and some gentle pressure, and a squeeze of the calf while you are standing. There are no needles and no radiation.

About 30 minutes for one leg and 45 minutes for both legs.

No fasting or other preparation is needed. Wear clothing that makes it easy to uncover your legs from the groin to the ankle.

Yes. With a GP referral, the scan is bulk billed and the report goes to your GP the same day. If you need treatment, your GP can refer you to Dr McConnell.

A duplex scan combines an ultrasound picture of the veins with Doppler, which shows the direction and speed of blood flow. That is what shows faulty valves and blood clots.

Book a vein ultrasound

In Manly or St Leonards, bulk billed with a GP referral.

(02) 9023 9970
Request a scan

Information on this website is general and isn't a substitute for advice about your own health. If you have a medical emergency, call 000. For other interventional radiology procedures, visit drryanmcconnell.com.au.

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