General Vascular Ultrasound

Your doctor has ordered a vascular ultrasound for you. Vascular ultrasound uses sound waves to see your arteries and veins. It is a harmless and safe technology that does not use radiation and does not require injection of any chemicals.

We offer the following procedures to examine and diagnose problems in various areas of the body:

• Saphenous vein mapping ultrasound
• Steal: Dialysis access arm and hand circulation
  
• Thoracic outlet
• Transcranial imaging ultrasound
• Ultrasound of aorta after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm (EVAR)
• Upper extremity arterial
• Upper extremity DVT
• Upper extremity vein mapping
• Varicose vein surgery pre‑op survey
• Varicose vein surgery post‑op evaluation
• Vasospasm digital
• Venous duplex ultrasound ‑ legs
• Venous insufficiency/swelling
• Visceral

Vascular ultrasounds are performed for a variety of reasons, including:

• Evaluate the arteries and veins for possible injury, blood clot, narrowing, aneurysm or blockage
• Analyze blood flow and circulation
• Evaluate symptoms including dizziness, loss of memory, stroke and loss of  muscle control
• Screen for stroke risk
• Create a "map" of your veins or arteries in preparation for various procedures, including bypass graft surgery (bypassing diseased vessels with healthy vessels from another part of your body)
• Record blood flow and identify clots following surgical graft or bypass procedures
• Evaluate loss of blood supply to a portion of your kidney or kidney rejection
• Determine whether your dialysis access is "stealing" blood from your hand
• Determine if there is a problem with a dialysis fistula or graft
• Evaluate veins in your arms for use during dialysis surgery or arterial bypass surgery in your arm or leg
• Examine all the veins in your legs before and after varicose vein surgery
• Evaluate symptoms such as shortness of breath, leg pain or swelling, excessive varicose veins, skin discoloration and ulcers in the foot, ankle, heel or toe

Here is what to expect during a vascular ultrasound and how to prepare for the exam.

• Exam preparations vary depending on what type of vascular ultrasound you are receiving.
  • For the following tests, please do not eat or drink six hours before your exam. You may take any scheduled medication with a sip of water.
    • Abdominal aorta ultrasound
    • Aorta iliac ultrasound
    • Femoral ultrasound
    • Inferior vena cava and iliac veins
    • Popliteal ultrasound
    • Pseudoaneurysm
    • Renal artery stenosis
    • Ultrasound of aorta after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm (EVAR)
    • Visceral
  • For intraoperative duplex ultrasound, your care team will give you preparation instructions prior to your surgery.
  • For all other exams, there are no preparations.
• If you are receiving a carotid duplex ultrasound, you may want to wear loose clothing, especially at the neck. It is best not to wear turtlenecks or silk shirts because of the gel that will be used.
• If your doctor gave you an order, please bring it with you.
• Please bring a magazine, book or music player to help you pass the time in case you have to wait.
• Please leave valuables and jewelry at home.

• The vascular technologist will explain your exam and answer any questions you may have.
• For most exams, you will be lying on the exam table on your back with your hands at your sides or on your stomach. If you are receiving a carotid duplex ultrasound or transcranial imaging ultrasound, you may be sitting in a chair.
• The technologist will apply a warm gel to the part of your body being studied.
• A transducer or a small microphone will be used to examine your arteries. For an intraoperative duplex ultrasound, the transducer is placed in a sterile sleeve as the procedure takes place before the skin is closed following surgery.
• For some exams, blood pressure readings will be taken. You will not feel any pain, only mild pressure from the blood pressure cuff and the transducer.
• If you are receiving a Doppler Allen's test ultrasound, tracings (photoplethysmography, also called PPG) tracking blood to your fingertips will be taken.
• Sound waves will bounce off the organs and tissue in your body and the blood moving in your arteries. This creates echoes. The echoes are reflected back to the transducer.
• A television monitor shows images as the transducer converts the echoes into electronic signals. These images may be viewed immediately or photographed for further study.
• You will hear the sound of moving blood during the exam. Do not be alarmed, it is harmless.
• For saphenous vein mapping ultrasound, the technologist will measure your leg vein and mark your skin to show your surgeon the exact location of your vein. You should not remove these marks as they are needed by the surgeon.

• Ankle/brachial indices (ABI): 15 minutes (longer if you are asked to do some exercises afterwards)
• Bypass graft ultrasound ‑ legs: 30 minutes
• Carotid duplex ultrasound: 15‑30 minutes
• Doppler Allen's test ultrasound: 20 minutes
• Renal transplant duplex ultrasound: 20 minutes
• Saphenous vein mapping ultrasound: 30 minutes
• Transcranial imaging ultrasound: 45 minutes
• Varicose vein surgery pre‑op survey: 1-2 hours
• Varicose vein surgery post‑op evaluation: 1-2 hours
• Venous duplex ultrasound ‑ legs: 15-30 minutes
• Venous insufficiency/swelling: 1‑2 hours

• The technologist will give you a towel to clean up and direct you to the restroom if necessary.
• Your study will be reviewed by an imaging physician and the results sent to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss these results with you and explain what they mean in relation to your health.
• If you have problems related to your procedure, please call 310‑423-8000.