3 Things a Vascular Ultrasound Will Tell You

Like many patients, you know that your doctor may have ordered a vascular ultrasound. Also, like many patients, you may not know exactly what that ultrasound is looking for or will tell you about your current situation. If you are in this situation, and you want to know more about what the vascular ultrasound can tell you, here are three things to know. These are only three of the key points this type of ultrasound will cover.

1. Blood Flow 

The key aspect the vascular ultrasound will tell you is your current blood flow situation. The ultrasound will show if there is a detection of any blockage, issue, or disease in the blood stream. Narrowing of the arteries is the main issue that most doctors are looking for in this type of ultrasound. If you are having issues with blood clots or you have a clot that is causing massive issues or could move, the ultrasound will give information on that as well.

2. Abdomen Issues

You may believe that a vascular ultrasound is only for the main veins in your legs, arms, and around your heart. The truth is your abdomen can also experience vascular related disease. A vascular ultrasound can help detect these issues in your abdomen just as it would in other areas of your body. The abdomen area can show up with signs of kidney issues as well as aneurysms. If you are brought in for a vascular ultrasound in your abdomen, they may test other areas as well depending on the issues or abnormalities found in the initial ultrasound.

3. Angioplasty Candidate

One of the other key points of the vascular ultrasound is to determine if the patient may be a candidate for angioplasty. Depending on the blood flow screenings and what the ultrasound finds as a whole, it can be a strong determining factor for doctors and insurance to determine if angioplasty is the next step. If it is the next step, you may need more ultrasounds as well. It will greatly depend on where the issues are and how far into your vascular system they are affected.

If you have specific questions about the process of a vascular ultrasound, consider a consultation appointment with your vascular specialist or their assistant. They can help you with questions and give you a better understanding of what to expect during and following this procedure. Your doctor can also let you know how to handle the few hours or days ahead of the ultrasound to ensure you are ready.