Arterial Ultrasound:

Arterial ultrasound uses two techniques to evaluate the blood pressure and blood flow in the arteries in your legs. These techniques are blood pressure measurement using cuffs similar to those used for arm measurements of pressure, and ultrasound (high frequency sound waves). Arterial ultrasound is performed to detect obstructions in the leg arteries. These obstructions may be causing symptoms, such as leg pain when walking or doing other forms of exercise. Total time for the test is an hour.

Venous Duplex Ultrasound:

The deep veins of the legs are the most common locations for large blood clots to develop, a condition known as “deep vein thrombosis”, or DVT. DVT may cause pain and swelling in a leg and may result in a pulmonary embolus, a condition where a portion of the DVT breaks free and travels in the blood stream to lodge in the lungs, the results of which can be fatal. Ultrasound imaging can also detect DVT with high accuracy and speed and lead to immediate treatment with blood thinners. Total time for the test is an hour.

Abdominal Aorta Ultrasound:

The abdominal aorta is also a typical location for arterial disease to develop. Disease of this major artery segment may cause its walls to weaken and stretch, resulting in a dilated, ballooning segment called an aneurysm. With further aneurysm expansion under pressure, tearing or rupture can occur, which carries a high fatality rate. Like disease in the carotid arteries, aortic aneurysm development and progression is typical silent. Aortic aneurysm is usually easily detected using ultrasound. Abnormal aorta aneurysms (AAA) are also a cause of sudden death. Total time for the test is an hour.