A vascular ultrasound, also called a vascular lab or duplex study, may sound like a foreboding testing procedure, but it’s fairly noninvasive procedure. Your doctor will order a vascular ultrasound to examine your circulation by evaluating your arteries, veins, and blood vessels in nearly any part of your body. If your doctor has recommended that you undergo a vascular ultrasound, here are some things you can expect:
Prepping for the Vascular Ultrasound
Typically no preparation is required before undergoing a vascular ultrasound, however, you may be advised not to eat or drink within eight hours of the exam. Children may be asked not to eat or drink for four hours before the test, or they may be asked to skip a meal. You should continue to take your medications with small sips of water; diabetics should continue to take their insulin. Right before your testing, you may be asked to drink a few glasses of water to fill your bladder.
Before the Procedure
You will be asked to remove all clothing, accessories, and anything that could interfere with the procedure, and put on a medical gown. You’ll then be asked to lie down on an exam table, where a technician will apply a clear gel to the areas of concern where blood flow may be lacking. The technologist will apply pressure to these areas using the ultrasound device – the transducer – and will be able to get audiovisual feedback from your body in real time. This pressure may be uncomfortable for some; otherwise, the procedure is relatively painless. If there are concerns, the doctor will capture the images like a screenshot. The overall process could take no more than two hours.
During the Procedure
Your doctor will likely observe either of two types of vessels – arteries or veins. Arteries are blood vessels that transfer blood from the heart and travel throughout the body. Veins are blood vessels that transfer blood to be pushed back into the heart and lungs to replenish the levels of oxygen and other nutrients. Your symptoms could be newly onset (acute) or chronic and long-lasting. Depending on what your doctor recommends, you may have multiple regions observed in one visit, searching for results of either acute or chronic issues.
After the Procedure
After the study is complete, the images taken by the exam will be evaluated by a radiologist. The results will be sent to your doctor and they will discuss your results with you privately. Depending on their conclusions, you may be referred to a specialist for further evaluation.
Communicating with your primary care physician advising of any concerns or symptoms that you’re noticing is the first step to discovering issues and preventing them from developing. In the Irmo area, the medical team at SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation are trusted and relied on to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions in adults – including vascular issues – through superior service and state-of-the-art treatment methods. If you have been diagnosed with any of these health conditions, SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation can help you. Call us at (803) 749-1111 to schedule an appointment or fill out our simple online appointment request form today. We look forward to serving you.
