Vascular Ultrasound

Getting an accurate diagnosis ensures that you get the best treatment. A vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic test that allows the team at Laser Surgical Solutions RGV PLLC to examine the movement of your blood through your blood vessels. They use the information gathered from the test to diagnose vascular conditions and develop effective treatment plans. To learn more about the vascular ultrasound, call the office in McAllen or Rio Grande City, Texas, or request a consultation online today. 

What is a vascular ultrasound?

A vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive and painless diagnostic test that allows the team at Laser Surgical Solutions RGV PLLC to see the movement of blood through your blood vessels.  As diabetes may cause hardening of the arteries additional studies besides picures of ultrasound are used.  In addition to ultrasound images there are physiologic tests such as pulse volume recording and pressures of the arms and the legs indexed to the arm are often helpful.  As diabetes hardens arteris in the ankle often pressure in the toes is also helpful.  In addition other exams such as transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement can be helpful as even the toes can have hardened arteries.

During the test, the ultrasound technician places a transducer on the part of your body undergoing evaluation. The transducer emits sound waves, which bounce off your body parts and back to the transducer.

The sound waves are then transferred to a computer, which translates the information into moving pictures you see on a computer monitor.

Physiologic tests such as ankle and toe brachial index are done with small cuffes on the arms legs and feet and small stickers are placed on the skin for transcutaneous oxygen measurement.

Who needs a vascular ultrasound?

Your primary care provider or one of the physicians at Laser Surgical Solutions RGV PLLC can explain why you would benefit from a vascular ultrasound.

The noninvasive diagnostic test may be recommended to:

• Monitor blood flow to organs and tissues throughout your body
• Locate areas of blockage (plaque, blood clots)
• Determine if you’re a good candidate for an endovascular procedure
• Assess the effectiveness of your endovascular procedure
• Diagnose an aneurysm
• Evaluate your varicose veins

Vascular ultrasound testing is also used to evaluate blood flow to a transplanted organ, for example, after a liver or kidney transplant.

What types of vascular ultrasounds are there?

The many types of vascular ultrasounds include:

• Carotid duplex
• Abdominal ultrasound for aortic aneurysm
• Upper and lower extremity vascular ultrasound for peripheral vascular disease 
• Lower extremity duplex for deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Lower extremity duplex for reflux
• Upper extremity duplex
• Physiologic testing (such as ankle brachial index and transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement)

You can also have a Doppler ultrasound during your vascular ultrasound. A Doppler ultrasound is a special test that measures the direction and speed of your blood cells as they circulate through your blood vessels.

What happens during a vascular ultrasound?

The specifics of your vascular ultrasound depend on the type of test you need. The noninvasive, painless procedure takes 30-90 minutes, depending on the test.

In most cases, there’s no special preparation needed prior to your vascular ultrasound. The team at Laser Surgical Solutions RGV PLLC recommends that you wear comfortable clothing to the in-office procedure.

During your vascular ultrasound, your ultrasound technician places the transducer on your skin near the site of your evaluation. You may feel some pressure but no pain.

After your vascular ultrasound, your cardiologist reviews the data and schedules a follow-up appointment to discuss findings and treatments.

To schedule your vascular ultrasound, call Laser Surgical Solutions RGV PLLC or request one online today.