Testing Vascular Health Non-Invasively

When people learn that they must undergo vascular testing, it can cause anxiety and even fear. But with modern innovations in medicine, vascular testing no longer needs to be invasive or painful.

Ultrasounds and Vein Mapping

As ultrasound testing progresses, it continues to become more clear and accurate.

• Carotid Duplex Ultrasounds will check for carotid artery disease and can help in preventing strokes.
• Venous Ultrasounds are performed on arms or legs to detect deep and superficial Venous Thrombosis, or to evaluate varicose veins and whether they are functioning correctly.
• An abdominal ultrasound is the most common type and will help to detect an aortic aneurysm or renal/mesenteric artery disease.

Vein Mapping can be performed for a number of reasons using one of the above ultrasound methods to make a ‘map’ of which veins would be best used for surgeries, or to allow your doctor to see how to best treat your symptoms such as varicose veins.

Assessing Blood Pressures

There are a number of ways to measure whether there is proper blood flow in the arms, legs, feet, and fingers.

• Segmental limb pressures use the above-mentioned ultrasounds combined with blood pressure readings from those specific areas.
• The Ankle Brachial Index is best used for testing for PAD. ABI is calculated by dividing the systolic pressure reading in the ankle by the systolic pressure reading from the brachial arm artery.

New ultrasound machines give doctors a perfect view of the area in question and are just as reliable as cameras. With all these new methods, it is now painless and comfortable to go through vascular testing.