Vascular Ultrasound

Both of our techs know the basic vascular ultrasound; however, our vascular technologist, Bryan Beus, has undergone extensive training in the vascular area and is certified by the ARDMS and AART.  

Vascular ultrasound is ultrasound of the veins and arteries throughout the body to look for buildup and or blockages.  It is often used to detect blood clots- hopefully in their early stages. Typically, a Doppler ultrasound study accompanies most vascular ultrasounds, this evaluates the blood flow through a blood vessel.

Test	Reason	Preparation	Time
Renal Arteries	Evaluates the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys detects the levels of narrowing	Fasting for 8 hours No food, water, or gum	1 Hour
Lower Extremity Arterial	Evaluates the arteries in the legs and detects the amount of blood flow	No prep	30 Minutes- 1 Hour
Lower Extremity	Venous Evaluates the veins in the legs checked for DVT Looks for areas of abnormal blood flow	No Prep	30 Minutes- 1.5 Hours
Upper Extremity Venous	Evaluates the veins in the arms- check for DVT Looks for areas of abnormal blood flow	No Prep	30 Minutes- 1 Hour
Upper Extremity Arterial	Evaluates the arteries in upper extremities and detects the amount of blood flow	No Prep	30 Minutes- 1 Hour
Carotid	Evaluates the carotid arteries and blood flow	No Prep	30 Minutes

*Please understand this chart is just a reference. The exact reason for your ultrasound and/or the prep could vary based upon directions from your physician. Also, the time is just a guideline some ultrasounds may take more or less time.