Vascular Ultrasound
At the Coastal Surgeons Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory we use non-invasive ultrasound as well as other techniques to assess the blood flow throughout your body. Noninvasive testing means there is no discomfort from needles/injections or other invasive maneuvers. Testing performed in our Vascular Laboratory allows diagnosis of suspected vascular disorders and provides your doctor with valuable information so that he or she may formulate an accurate treatment plan. Most of the time with the convenience of our Vascular Laboratory being located within our office you can have your testing done and speak to your doctor right away to discuss your treatment plan. All testing must be ordered by your physician. Performing an ultrasound requires applying a gel to the skin then moving a small transducer over the skin, allowing us to see your blood vessels and look at your blood flow. The testing is administered by our registered and highly trained ultrasound technologist who specializes in vascular ultrasound studies. The ultrasound technologist’s certifications are clearly posted in our Vascular Laboratory for you to view.
We offer a full range of Noninvasive Vascular testing including the following:
Venous Ultrasound
Testing for D.V.T. (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or blood clots inside the veins which can lead to swelling and possibly pulmonary emboli which are blood clots in the lungs.
Venous Reflux
Testing for leaking of the valves within the veins which can lead to swelling, varicose veins, and skin ulcers.
Arterial Duplex
Looking for plaque build-up within the arteries or peripheral vascular disease which can lead to pain in the legs with walking, skin ulcers, and tissue loss.
Carotid Duplex
Looking for plaque build-up in the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are located in the neck and bring blood supply to the brain. Plaque inside the carotid arteries can cause a stroke.
Abdominal Aorta Ultrasound
We can measure the size of the aorta using ultrasound and look for weakening in the wall of the artery which is called an aneurysm. Aneurysms are potentially dangerous because they can rupture and cause severe blood loss.