Vascular Imaging

What is vascular imaging?

Vascular imaging uses painless energy waves to create images of your blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is rarely localized. For example, people with coronary artery disease (CAD) and obstructions in their heart arteries are more likely to also have artery obstructions in other areas of the body.

The highly skilled Cardiovascular Wellness Center team offers an array of imaging studies that detect heart and blood vessel diseases and their risk factors.

Which conditions can vascular imaging detect?

Vascular imaging at Cardiovascular Wellness Center can screen for the following conditions and more:

• Carotid artery disease
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Atherosclerosis
• Blood clots
• Vascular diseases
• Varicose veins
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Detecting these and similar conditions early is one of the best ways to avoid severe or potentially life-threatening complications. 

Which vascular imaging procedures are available?

Cardiovascular Wellness Center offers the following vascular imaging procedures and more:

• Abdominal aorta ultrasounds to screen for aneurysms (artery dilation)
• Carotid artery ultrasound
• Lower extremity vascular studies (ABI)
• Renal artery ultrasound for individuals with high blood pressure
• Lower extremity arterial and venous ultrasound
• Evaluation of lower extremities venous reflux

The type of vascular imaging that’s best for you depends on your diagnosis, risk factors, symptoms, and current treatment plan (if you have one).

What happens during vascular imaging procedures?

Vascular ultrasound procedures are typically painless and noninvasive. Your Cardiovascular Wellness Center specialist might place a gel on your skin and move a transducer over a targeted area to evaluate the health of your arteries or veins. Other imaging procedures, such as a CT scan or MRI, don’t require the use of a gel or transducer.

You might receive a dye intravenously (via an IV) before undergoing some types of vascular imaging procedures.

Your specialist views the images created on a computer screen during vascular imaging and wipes off any gel afterward. The procedure is simple and generally fast, without any downtime needed afterward.

What should I expect after vascular imaging?

After vascular imaging, the Cardiovascular Wellness Center team reviews the results and discusses them with you. They determine if you’re a candidate for watchful waiting, medication management, lifestyle changes, a medical procedure, or additional diagnostic testing. Your specialist follows up to ensure a superior, long-lasting outcome.

Schedule an evaluation at Cardiovascular Wellness Center by phone or request one online today to determine if you’re a candidate for vascular imaging.