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Ultrasound imaging of the body's veins and arteries
can help early identification of clots in veins
and plaque in arteries. Ultrasound images may
also be used to plan or review the success of
procedures bypass blocked blood vessels such as
renal artery bypass. Ultrasound of the veins may
reveal blood clots that require treatment, such
as anticoagulant therapy, or filters to prevent
clots from traveling to the lungs.
Ultrasound of the vascular system also provides
a fast, noninvasive means of identifying blockages
of blood flow in the neck arteries to the brain
that might produce a stroke or mini-stroke.
Benefits
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Our accreditation signifies that our facility
has been reviewed by an independent agency which
recognizes our laboratory's commitment to quality
testing for diagnosis of vascular disease. Participation
in the accreditation process is voluntary and
demonstrates our laboratory's concern for high
quality patient care and attention to quality
assurance.
Effective and
Safe
These sophisticated tests are painless and document
the presence, location, and severity of arterial
and venous vascular disease. In addition, the
non-invasive nature of the exam greatly reduces
patient risk and enhances patient comfort when
compared to invasive diagnostic procedures.
Sensitivity
to Patient Needs
Each patient referred to our Vascular Laboratory
is treated as an individual with specific, special
needs. Vascular technologists obtain a complete
problem-focused history, thoroughly explain the
procedure, and help the patient relax by carefully
describing the test as it is being performed.
How to prepare
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
for your vascular ultrasound exam. No other preparation
is required.
How does the
procedure work
Ultrasound imaging is based on the same principles
involved in the sonar used by bats, ships at sea
and anglers with fish detectors. As the sound
passes through the body, echoes are produced that
can be used to identify how far away an object
is, how large it is, its shape and its consistency.
The ultrasound transducer functions as both a
loudspeaker and a microphone. When the transducer
is pressed against the skin, it directs a stream
of inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into
the body. As the sound waves echo from the body's
fluids and tissues, the sensitive microphone in
the transducer records tiny changes in the sound's
pitch and direction. These signature waves are
instantly measured and displayed by a computer,
which in turn creates a real-time picture on the
monitor. The live images of the examination can
be recorded on videotape. In addition, still frames
of the moving picture are usually "frozen"
to capture a series of images. Blood flow changes
the pitch of the sound beam; this Doppler effect
can be heard or detected on the image as color
or displayed graphically.
What should I expect
You are comfortably positioned on an examination
table that can tilt and move. A clear gel is applied
to the area that will be examined. The gel helps
the transducer make a secure contact and eliminates
air pockets between the transducer and the skin,
since the sound waves cannot penetrate air. Our
radiologist then presses the transducer firmly
against the skin and sweeps along the area of
interest, reviewing the images on the monitor
and capturing "snapshots" as required.
For venous ultrasound examinations, the transducer
is pressed gently on the leg.
Most exams take less than 30 minutes; however,
more complicated examinations may take somewhat
longer.
What are the risks
None.
When do I get the results
In general, results are
available within 24-36 hours.
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