ULTRASOUND
An ultrasound scan is a painless procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves, which are bounced off structures and moving blood inside the body. The images and signals produced are used to evaluate arterial blood flow. There are several types of peripheral ultrasound exams including a lower-extremity arterial scan, lower-extremity venous duplex scan, abdominal aorta duplex scan, pelvic vessel scan and a carotid-artery duplex scan. All of these methods use high-frequency sound waves as the means of detection.
Lower and upper-extremity arterial evaluation- The purpose of an upper and lower extremity arterial evaluation is to detect the presence, severity and location of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries caused by plaque) in your arms and legs. Some of the indications for an arterial evaluation include leg/arm pain and leg pain while walking (claudication), pain at rest, numbness and tingling, or non-healing ulcers or sores of the legs or feet. An ultrasound scan is a painless procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves, which are bounced off structures and moving blood inside the body. The images and signals produced are used to evaluate arterial blood flow. A water-based gel will be applied, and an ultrasound probe, or transducer, will be used to scan the arteries in either the arms or legs and images of your arteries and the sound of your blood flow will be recorded.
Lower-extremity venous duplex scan-The purpose of a venous duplex scan is to detect the presence of thrombus (blood clot) in your veins. Some indications for a lower-extremity venous scan include warmth, pain and swelling of one or both legs, or ulcers of legs. A water-based gel will be applied to your legs, and images of your veins and the sound of blood flow within them will be recorded using ultrasound. You will be asked to perform various breathing maneuvers and will feel compressions of your leg in several places throughout the test. This examination is usually painless, although you may feel some discomfort if your leg is tender.
Abdominal aorta scan- An ultrasound scan of your abdominal aorta is performed to detect aneurysms (weakening and stretching of the walls of the aorta). A water-based gel will be applied to your abdomen, and images of your abdominal aorta and the sound of blood flow will be recorded using and ultrasound transducer. This procedure is painless and will take approximately 45 minutes. It is necessary to refrain from eating and drinking for six hours prior to this procedure.
Carotid-artery duplex scan- The purpose of a carotid-artery duplex scan is to detect the presence of atherosclerosis (narrowing caused by plaque) in your carotid arteries, which are the arteries in your neck that supply blood flow to your brain. Some indications for a carotid artery duplex scan include weakness, paralysis or dysfunction of limbs, change in speech, visual disturbances, numbness or tingling in limbs, and balance disturbances.
