Vascular ultrasounds allow your provider to see your blood flow in real-time and assess areas of blockage or damage within your circulatory system. At Vascular Specialists in Tinley Park, Illinois, and Munster, Indiana, the team utilizes in-office vascular ultrasounds to diagnose vascular conditions, assess your need for treatment, or evaluate the success of treatment. To learn more about this imaging procedure, call Vascular Specialists or book an appointment online today.
Ultrasound imaging involves the use of soundwaves to create a real-time image on a monitor. More specifically, vascular ultrasounds use Doppler ultrasound technology to reflect high-frequency soundwaves off your blood vessels and the blood within them.
Vascular ultrasounds are diagnostic tools, much like X-rays, that can help the Vascular Specialists team diagnose vascular complications, evaluate your blood flow, or track your progress with treatment. The imaging test is completely non-invasive and is harmless because it doesn’t use radiation.
Vascular ultrasounds serve many purposes at Vascular Specialists, and there are several reasons why the team might use them during your treatment. By evaluating your blood flow with a vascular ultrasound, the Vascular Specialists team can:
Vascular ultrasounds ensure that you get the best possible treatment for your condition. Using them can minimize treatment-related complications and help you avoid unnecessary treatments or services.
Although vascular ultrasounds are uncomplicated, there are a few steps to take before your appointment to make it as simple as possible. To prepare for your vascular ultrasound, the team might recommend you wear loose clothes. If you need an abdominal vascular ultrasound, they may ask you to skip a meal or fast before your test.
The Vascular Specialists team conveniently provides vascular ultrasounds in the office so you don’t have to go to an unfamiliar environment for your test. The in-office sonographer collaborates with the doctors directly.
When you arrive for your appointment at Vascular Specialists, the team advises you to lie down on the examination table. Your provider might ask you to lie on your back or turn on either side for better access to the examination area. They apply a cool gel to your skin that helps promote the transmission of the soundwaves.
The sonographer uses a handpiece called a transducer. They glide the transducer across certain areas to see your vessels from various angles and at different locations. When finished, the gel is wiped from your skin and you can go home or continue your day. The entire procedure takes 30-45 minutes.
To find out if a vascular ultrasound is necessary for your diagnosis or treatment, call Vascular Specialists or book an appointment online today.