What is Vascular Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is also called ultrasound scanning or sonography. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation (as used in x-rays). Because images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs. They can also show blood flowing through blood vessels. Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Vascular ultrasound provides pictures of the body's veins and arteries. A Doppler ultrasound study is usually part of a vascular ultrasound examination. Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates movement of materials in the body. It allows the doctor to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in the body.
What are some common uses of the procedure?
Sonography is a useful way of evaluating the body's circulatory system. Vascular ultrasound is performed to:
- Help monitor the blood flow to organs and tissues throughout the body.
- Locate and identify blockages (stenosis) and abnormalities like plaque or emboli and help plan for their effective treatment.
- Detect blood clots (deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the major veins of the legs or arms.
- Determine whether a patient is a good candidate for a procedure such as angioplasty.
- Evaluate the success of procedures that graft or bypass blood vessels.
- Determine if there is an enlarged artery (aneurysm).
- Evaluate varicose veins.
Doppler ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:
- Aid in the placement of a needle or catheter into a vein or artery to help avoid complications such as bleeding, nerve injury or pseudo-aneurysm (abnormal outpouching of an artery with the risk of rupture).
- Evaluate a connection between an artery and a vein which can be seen in congenital vascular malformations (arteriovenous malformations or fistula) and in dialysis fistula.
- If a line is placed in an artery or vein of the legs or arms, there is a much higher chance of developing a clot around it due to the smaller vessel size (especially in infants and young children). In some instances, a clot can form in the arm or in the left leg with the latter extending into the major vein of the abdomen. Plaque formation is not frequently seen in children but there can be compression at the inlet of the chest.
In children, ultrasound is used to:
- Blockages to blood flow (such as clots)
- Narrowing of vessels
- Tumors and congenital vascular malformations
- Reduced or absent blood flow to various organs, such as the testes or ovary
- Increased blood flow, which may be a sign of infection
Do you need appointment for Vascular Ultrasound?
For doing Ultrasound you always need to book appointment. To book an appointment, take a picture of your Requisition and text it to 647-324-9500 or call us at 905-294-4880 or click on the Book Online Appointment link on the top of this page.
We, at Ontario Diagnostic Centres, are here to help your body, mind and spirit. We firmly believe that better healthcare is naturally less expensive.
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