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What are vascular ultrasounds?

Vascular ultrasounds are sound wave procedures that evaluate the structure of your blood vessels and the flow of blood through them. The test uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of your arteries and veins, looking for signs of damage or blockage.

Advanced Women’s Imaging LLC performs a Doppler ultrasound during the vascular test. A Doppler ultrasound shows the speed and direction of blood flow through your blood vessels.

I have leg pain. Why do I need vascular ultrasounds?

Leg pain is a common symptom of circulation problems in the legs.

Your provider might order a vascular ultrasound if they suspect your leg pain is caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD), a narrowing of your arteries due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis).

If you experience leg pain and varicose veins, your provider could request a vascular ultrasound to look for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). CVI is a condition in which the veins in your legs can no longer transport blood back to the heart and lungs. This allows the blood to pool in the ankles, causing swelling.

Advanced Women’s Imaging LLC also performs vascular ultrasounds to evaluate the carotid arteries — which supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain — in the neck to look for narrowing or blockages.

I’m sensitive to pain. What can I expect during vascular ultrasounds?

Vascular ultrasounds are noninvasive imaging tests. Though you’ll feel pressure from the ultrasound wand (transducer) during the test, most people find the procedure relatively painless and well-tolerated.

Your Advanced Women’s Imaging LLC technician explains the details of your vascular ultrasound before starting so that you know what to expect. The technician applies a gel to your skin and then glides the transducer over your skin to get the images.

Vascular ultrasounds take 30 to 45 minutes.

When can I expect results from vascular ultrasounds?

A fellowship-trained radiologist specializing in vascular disease at Advanced Women’s Imaging LLC reviews the ultrasound images and completes a report within 24 hours of your test. For emergency vascular ultrasounds, you can expect results within 30 minutes.

Call Advanced Women’s Imaging LLC today or click the online booking button to learn more about vascular ultrasounds.