Doppler Test in Pokhara — Colour Doppler Ultrasound at KDRC

What is a Doppler test?

A Doppler test is an ultrasound scan that measures the speed and direction of blood flowing through your arteries and veins. A Doppler test in Pokhara at KDRC checks blood flow without needles or radiation. A normal ultrasound shows the shape of a vessel. Doppler adds the movement of the blood inside it. Together they show whether a vein holds a clot, whether an artery is narrowed, and whether blood reaches an organ as it should.

Patients and doctors use many names for the same test: Doppler ultrasound, colour Doppler, duplex scan or vascular ultrasound. In Pokhara people often simply ask for a "Doppler test" or a "colour Doppler". Because Doppler is a special mode of ultrasound, some patients also call it a "video X-ray" (भिडियो एक्स-रे), but no X-ray is used at any point. If you are looking for a Doppler test in Pokhara, this page explains what it is, why your doctor asked for it, how to prepare, and what happens at Kaligandaki Diagnostic and Research Center (KDRC) on Shantipath, Amarsingh Chowk.

How does Doppler ultrasound work?

Doppler ultrasound works by sending sound waves into the body and measuring the small change in pitch when they bounce back from moving red blood cells. This change is called the Doppler effect. It is the same effect that makes a passing motorbike sound higher as it approaches and lower as it moves away. Blood moving towards the probe returns a slightly higher frequency. Blood moving away returns a lower one. The machine turns these changes into colours, graphs and sound.

During the scan you will often hear a rhythmic "whooshing" noise. That is the Doppler signal of your own blood flow. Arteries usually give a pulsing sound with each heartbeat. Veins usually give a softer, steadier sound that changes with breathing.

Several Doppler modes are combined in one examination, and each answers a slightly different question:

Red and blue on the screen do not mean "artery" and "vein". They only show whether blood is moving towards or away from the probe. The radiologist interprets the colours together with the waveforms and the grey-scale picture.

Why is a Doppler test done?

A Doppler test is done to find problems with blood flow, such as clots, narrowed or blocked vessels, leaking vein valves and reduced blood supply to an organ. RadiologyInfo lists its main uses as locating blockages and plaque, detecting deep vein clots, finding aneurysms and varicose veins, checking grafts and bypasses, and showing reduced or increased blood flow to organs. The study your doctor requests depends on your symptoms. The table below matches common Doppler studies to the questions they answer.

Some of these reasons can be emergencies. Please read the warning below before booking a routine appointment.

Go to a hospital emergency department immediately if leg swelling or pain comes with chest pain or sudden breathlessness, which can signal a clot in the lungs. Also seek emergency care for sudden face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech, a cold, pale or numb leg, or sudden severe testicular pain. Call an ambulance, such as the 24/7 KDRC ambulance; do not drive yourself.

Venous Doppler in Pokhara: blood clots and varicose veins

A venous Doppler checks the veins for clots and for valves that let blood flow backwards. It is the most common Doppler study requested in everyday practice.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the calf or thigh. The NHS describes typical symptoms as throbbing pain and swelling in one leg, warm or discoloured skin, and swollen veins. NHS guidance says that when a doctor suspects DVT, the patient should have an ultrasound scan within 24 hours to check whether blood is flowing normally through the vein. Risk rises after surgery, during a hospital stay, with bed rest of 3 days or more, on long journeys of over 4 hours, during pregnancy and in the 6 weeks after giving birth. A venous Doppler looks along the deep veins, presses gently on them with the probe and checks the flow. A healthy vein squeezes flat; a vein containing a clot does not.

Varicose veins and venous reflux

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins, usually in the legs. The NHS notes that a specialist usually confirms them with a duplex ultrasound, which checks blood flow and helps plan treatment. During a venous reflux study you may be asked to stand or sit with your legs down, take a deep breath and strain, or have your calf squeezed. These manoeuvres show whether the vein valves close properly. The resulting map tells the surgeon which veins are leaking before any procedure.

Carotid Doppler: checking the neck arteries

A carotid Doppler examines the two large arteries in the neck that carry blood to the brain, looking for narrowing (stenosis) that can raise the risk of stroke. RadiologyInfo lists its uses as screening for narrowing or blockage, assessing patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, a neck bruit or a family history of stroke or heart disease, and checking an artery after surgery or stenting. You lie on your back with your head turned slightly away from the side being scanned. An open-necked shirt or kurta makes the scan easier. The radiologist measures the speed of blood through any narrowing, because faster flow suggests a tighter stenosis. Carotid Doppler does not replace emergency stroke care: anyone with sudden face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech needs a hospital emergency department straight away.

Arterial Doppler for leg pain, diabetes and poor circulation

An arterial Doppler of the legs looks for narrowed or blocked arteries that reduce blood supply to the muscles and skin. The commonest symptom of peripheral arterial disease is leg pain when walking that eases after a few minutes of rest, known as intermittent claudication. The NHS names smoking as the most significant risk factor, followed by diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and older age. Many people have no symptoms at all.

The study often begins at the groin and follows the arteries down to the ankle. The radiologist notes where flow changes and how severe any narrowing appears. For patients with diabetes, Doppler findings help doctors decide how to look after foot wounds. If the doctor needs a full road map of the arteries before surgery or angioplasty, Doppler is often followed by CT angiography at KDRC, which shows all the vessels at once using contrast.

Obstetric Doppler during pregnancy

Obstetric Doppler measures blood flow in the umbilical cord and, when needed, in the baby or placenta, and it is requested when a doctor wants extra information about the baby's well-being. RadiologyInfo notes that Doppler may be part of a pregnancy ultrasound and that ultrasound has been used in pregnancy for nearly four decades with no evidence of harm to the mother, embryo or fetus. It should still be done only when medically indicated.

Doctors usually request obstetric Doppler when they are concerned about a baby's growth, the amount of fluid around the baby, or the mother's health. It is a focused add-on rather than a routine screening scan. The detailed structural check of the baby is a separate examination: see our anomaly scan in Pokhara page for that, and the HD ultrasound page for dating, growth and 3D/4D scans. If your doctor requests a growth scan with Doppler, our team can usually perform both in the same visit on the same machine.

How to prepare for a Doppler test

Most Doppler tests need no special preparation beyond comfortable clothing, but a few abdominal studies need fasting. RadiologyInfo advises leaving jewellery at home and wearing loose clothing, and says your doctor will tell you if you should avoid eating or drinking. Our booking staff confirm your exact instructions when you call. The table gives the usual preparation by study type.

What happens during a Doppler scan at KDRC?

A Doppler scan at KDRC is a painless, hands-on ultrasound examination that usually takes between a quarter of an hour and three quarters of an hour. The NHS gives 10 to 45 minutes as the typical range for an ultrasound scan, and a full study of both legs or of arteries and veins together can take longer. The steps below describe a typical visit from registration to report.

You can talk during most of the scan. The sonographer or radiologist may ask you to hold your breath, turn slightly, or keep very still for a few seconds while a measurement is recorded. Firm probe pressure over a tender, swollen calf can be uncomfortable for a moment; tell the examiner and they will adjust.

Is a Doppler test safe and painful?

A Doppler test is safe and is not painful, because it uses sound waves rather than radiation and involves no injections. RadiologyInfo states that vascular ultrasound is non-invasive, uses no ionising radiation and has no known harmful effects when used properly. Mild pressure is the only common discomfort. It is safe in pregnancy when medically indicated, safe for children, and safe for people with kidney disease, because no contrast dye is needed.

Doppler does have limits. Deep vessels in larger patients, very small vessels and arteries heavily coated with calcium can be hard to see, and image quality depends on the skill of the examiner. When Doppler cannot answer the question, doctors may move on to CT angiography or MRI. The comparison below shows how Doppler sits next to CT angiography.

Doppler results and reports

Your Doppler report describes each vessel examined, the direction and speed of flow, and any clot, narrowing or reflux the radiologist found. At KDRC, Doppler studies are reported by our consultant radiologists, Dr. Bishworaj Bastakoti and Dr. Nawaraj Paudel. Both have been registered radiologists with the Nepal Medical Council since 2016 and are members of the Nepal Radiologist Society. Dr. Bastakoti trained at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Manila and is a Diplomate of the Philippine College of Radiology. Dr. Paudel trained at East Avenue Medical Centre in Manila and is a former assistant professor of radiology at Universal College of Medical Sciences.

Report timing depends on the study and how complex the findings are. Our team will tell you when to collect your report. If a finding needs urgent attention, such as a fresh deep vein clot, the radiologist will advise you to see your doctor without delay. Please bring earlier Doppler reports, because comparing old and new measurements shows whether a narrowing or reflux is stable or getting worse. Referring hospitals that need remote reporting can also use our teleradiology service.

How much does a Doppler test cost in Pokhara?

The cost of a Doppler test in Pokhara depends mainly on which vessels are examined and how many, so KDRC quotes each study individually. A single-leg venous scan is a smaller study than both legs, and both are smaller than a combined arterial and venous examination. A carotid Doppler, a renal Doppler and an obstetric Doppler are each priced separately. If Doppler is added to another ultrasound in the same visit, staff can explain how that affects the total. For the current Doppler price, call 061-553538 or 9856077433 (also on Viber) and tell us which study your doctor has written on the request form.

Why choose KDRC for a Doppler test in Pokhara?

KDRC combines high-definition colour Doppler with consultant radiologist reporting and a full imaging department under one roof, so a Doppler result can lead straight to the next test without travelling across the city.

• HD ultrasound with colour Doppler: the same high-definition system used for our 3D, 4D and volume scans.
• Consultant radiologists: two NMC-registered radiologists who have worked at KDRC since the centre began.
• Next steps on site: CT angiography on a 192-slice Siemens CT, open-type MRI and ultrasound-guided FNAC when a Doppler finding needs further work-up.
• Help with transport: a 24/7 ambulance service for patients who cannot travel safely.
• Any day of the week: ultrasound-based services, including anomaly scans, are available on any day of the week; call to confirm a time.

Getting to KDRC and booking your Doppler test

KDRC is on Shantipath at Amarsingh Chowk, Pokhara-10, Kaski. Most local taxi drivers know Amarsingh Chowk, and the centre's signage is visible from the road. Bring your doctor's request form, your citizenship card or another ID, a list of your medicines and any earlier vascular reports. If you are coming from outside Pokhara, for example from Syangja, Tanahun, Parbat or Baglung, call first so that the study can be confirmed before you travel.

To book, call 061-553538 or 9856077433, email kaligandaki.dc@gmail.com, or use the appointment form. You can browse all KDRC services if your doctor has requested more than one test. Ask whether a referral is needed for your particular study; staff will guide you.