Ultrasound
An ultrasound is a non-invasive test that is able to visualise both the shape of the blood vessel and the flow of blood using sound waves. No radioactivity is used in an ultrasound.
An ultrasound is carried out by doctors: radiologists (to screen for vascular diseases), or vascular surgeons (to check procedures that have been carried out).
Some concrete examples are:
• identifying a deep venous thrombosis (DVT),
• identifying aneurysms (link) in the hollow of the knee or (in slim patients) in the abdomen,
• diagnosis of narrowing or calcification of the arteries in the neck,
• assessing the veins in the arm as preparation for creating a dialysis fistula, or in the neck as preparation for the placement of a catheter.
How the test is carried out
- During an ultrasound you will be lying on an examination table.
- The doctor applies a gel to your skin.
- The radiologist uses a probe which is moved across the part of the body being viewed. The probe produces images of that part of the body.
- An ultrasound scan takes about 20 to 30 minutes and is completely painless.
- The ultrasound report is sent to your GP and vascular surgeon.