Carotid artery ultrasound, known as carotid artery Doppler color Doppler ultrasound in medicine, is the most common examination method for carotid artery diseases. Under the Doppler ultrasound probe, it can detect the blood flow velocity, blood direction, whether there is regurgitation, and whether there are vascular malformations. It can also check for soft plaques and thrombi within the blood vessels and conduct precise measurements of thrombi and soft plaques. Based on the ultrasound imaging, it can carry out staging diagnosis of thrombi, and also determine whether there are stenosis and obstructive changes within the blood vessels. By accurately measuring the inner diameter of the blood vessels, it can calculate the degree of occlusion caused by thrombi or soft plaques.

Carotid artery stenosis is mainly caused by atherosclerosis of the aorta. When daily life is affected by poor lifestyles and high blood sugar, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and other factors, it will exacerbate the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Over time, it can cause the intima of the common carotid artery to thicken, ulcerate, and produce soft plaques that block the lumen of the carotid artery, leading to stenosis. After the intima of the common carotid artery becomes necrotic, it is prone to fall off or form thrombi in the ulcers. Therefore, after suffering from carotid artery stenosis, it is necessary to pay attention and take treatment measures as soon as possible.

For the treatment of carotid artery stenosis, there are currently two methods in medicine: medication and surgical treatment. Among them, medication can only treat mild carotid artery stenosis, while the most effective surgical treatment is the endarterectomy of the common carotid artery. However, many patients are not aware of the circumstances under which medication can be used to treat common carotid artery occlusion.

The examination of the common carotid artery generally refers to the Doppler ultrasound examination of the carotid artery, which can evaluate the blood condition within the common carotid artery, the level of carotid atherosclerosis, whether there are soft plaques within the common carotid artery, the total number of soft plaques, their size, and their actual location, especially whether there are soft plaques at the bifurcation of the aorta. This examination is crucial for evaluating the level of carotid atherosclerosis and inferring the level of systemic atherosclerosis, as well as for assessing the risk of cerebrovascular diseases. Cardiology and neurology departments often require this examination, so you can make an appointment with either department.