What is a Vascular Ultrasound Capable of Detecting?
Vascular Ultrasounds are a noninvasive and safe examination, which is used to check blood circulation throughout the body. Its primary function is to assess blood flow to certain organs and tissues in your body, as well as to detect and diagnose any blockages or irregularities within the blood arteries.
Vascular ultrasonography employs sound waves to make images of blood vessels in the circulatory system of the body. Sound waves bounce off of blood cells flowing within blood arteries during a vascular ultrasound, allowing the physician to properly analyze their movement and pace, as well as the state of the blood vessels.
Arteries are blood channels that transport oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body, whereas veins return oxygen-depleted blood to the heart for oxygen delivery. They make up the vascular system, often known as the circulatory system.
Purpose of a Vascular Ultrasound Scan
Vascular ultrasonography tests are used to:
Keep track of blood flow to specific organs and tissues.
Identify and discover any blood vessel blockages, irregularities, or narrowing (vascular stenosis).
Determine the rate of blood flow.
Identify blood clots.
Check to see if a blood vessel is swollen.
Examine your varicose veins.
Determine whether an angioplasty is required.
Examine the outcome of a surgical surgery.
Conditions that can Detected by Vascular Ultrasound
Vascular ultrasound is used to correctly identify and measure the severity of a variety of vascular disorders, such as those caused by decreased blood flow or clogged blood vessels, which can lead to life-threatening conditions like a heart attack or stroke.
The following are examples of common vascular conditions:
Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the veins consistently struggle to return blood from the extremities to the heart. Blood can back up and pool in the legs if blood supply to the heart is impeded owing to a blood clot or other malfunction, resulting in chronic venous insufficiency. The most prevalent cause of CVI is a malfunction of the venous valves.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Peripheral artery disease is a common circulatory disorder in which constricted arteries prevent enough oxygen-rich blood from reaching the body's limbs. The narrowing is usually caused by atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty plaque accumulates in the arteries. Symptoms such as painful muscle cramps indicate a lack of blood supply to the area, which is most common in the legs.
Carotid Artery Disease (CAD)
Carotid artery disease, like PAD, affects the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck. Because the carotid arteries carry blood to the brain, blood flow to the brain may be diminished if they become narrowed or blocked owing to atherosclerosis. In severe cases, CAD can result in a stroke.
Thrombosis Deep Veins (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis is a dangerous disorder in which a blood clot forms in a big, deep vein, usually in the leg. It can be fatal if the blood clot breaks free and lodges in the lungs, resulting in a pulmonary embolism. This might result in shortness of breath, chest pain, and abrupt death owing to a lack of blood circulation.
