Overview

A vascular ultrasound exam looks at the blood vessels to see whether there are any areas of dilatation, narrowing, or blockage.  The vessels most frequently looked at are in the neck, arms, and legs, including both arteries and/or veins, as well as assessment of bypass grafts and AV fistulas for hemodialysis.

Preparation for Your Exam

No special preparation is necessary.

During The Exam

How is the exam performed?
The patient lies on a table with the abdominal area exposed.  The sonographer (technologist who performs the exam) will put a warm water-based gel on the skin surface.  The gel helps to transmit sound waves by excluding air.  An instrument called a transducer, which is about the size of a microphone, will be moved over the skin surface by the sonographer.

How long will the exam take?
A half hour, depending on the area to be studied.  In some cases the exam may last up to one and a half hours.

Will it hurt?
No.

Getting Your Results

The exam images will first be viewed by a radiologist, a physician specializing in analyzing these exams.  Our radiologists will review the results of your Ultrasound with your doctor who will then explain them to you.  Your doctor should have access to your exam results within 24 hours.