Which Doppler characteristic would indicate normal blood flow?

A continuous waveform pattern is indicative of normal blood flow, particularly in scenarios where blood is flowing through a vessel in a consistent, unimpeded manner. This type of waveform typically reflects laminar flow, where the blood moves in smooth layers without turbulence, a characteristic of healthy vascular conditions. The presence of a continuous waveform suggests that the flow is steady and stable, often seen in venous flow or in larger arterial systems where diastolic flow is present.

In contrast, a chaotic pattern can indicate disturbed or turbulent flow, which is often seen in pathological conditions such as stenosis or plaque formation in arteries. A flatline suggests the absence of flow or a severe blockage, which is not normal. A high resistance waveform is more commonly associated with arteries supplying areas where blood demand is low, such as during diastole, and may indicate normal flow in specific contexts but is not universally characteristic of normal blood flow throughout the vascular system.