What is a vascular ultrasound?
Vascular ultrasound, or duplex ultrasound as it’s also known, is an imaging technology the team at Tinsley Surgical uses to look at your circulation. It’s an invaluable technique for examining how well your blood flows through arteries and veins all over your body.
During the vascular ultrasound procedure, sound waves enter your tissues from the ultrasound machine. The sound waves bounce off your blood cells and back to the device, which records the pattern they make to create a detailed image of your blood vessels.
The Tinsley Surgical team sees the image on a monitor. They can calculate how fast your blood flows through a particular vein or artery. If blood flows too fast, you likely have a narrowing or blockage in the affected blood vessel.
Schedule AppointmentCommonly asked questions about vascular ultrasound:
At Tinsley Surgical, vascular ultrasound plays a vital role in:
- Evaluating Blood Flow: Vascular ultrasound enables us to assess the flow of blood through your veins and arteries.
- Detecting Narrowing of Blood Vessels: We use ultrasound to identify any narrowing or blockages in your blood vessels.
- Measuring the Extent of Blood Vessel Narrowing: Our advanced ultrasound technology allows for precise measurements of vessel narrowing, aiding in treatment planning.
- Identifying Blood Clots: Vascular ultrasound helps in detecting the presence of blood clots, a crucial aspect of vascular health assessment.
Furthermore, our team leverages vascular ultrasound to diagnose and monitor various vascular conditions, including abdominal aortic aneurysms and renal artery issues. It also serves as a valuable tool in tracking the progress of patients post-procedures like bypass grafts and stent placements.
Vascular ultrasound offers several advantages as a diagnostic tool. It is:
- Noninvasive and Safe: Vascular ultrasound is entirely noninvasive, eliminating the need for incisions or injections. It also avoids exposure to radiation, unlike X-rays.
- No Contrast Dye Required: Unlike some procedures that require contrast dye for clarity, vascular ultrasound does not, making it a safer option for many patients.
- Accurate and Detailed: This technique provides precise physiological data on blood flow in veins and arteries, offering insights that few other methods can match.
- Portable and Flexible: Vascular ultrasound machines are portable and can be used in various locations and positions, unlike fixed imaging technologies like CAT and MRI machines.
Tinsley Surgical’s in-house vascular ultrasound facility allows for quick and convenient diagnosis of patients, especially those at higher risk of vascular disease. Additionally, the team can perform certain procedures in-office based on the severity of the condition.