Vascular Ultrasound Specialist
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Woodlands Vein Center & Preventative Medicine Clinic
Vein Treatment and Cardiac Preventive Care located in Shenandoah, TX
A vascular ultrasound is a painless in-office diagnostic study that provides valuable information about the health of your veins, arteries, and circulatory system. Board-certified nurse practitioner Eliza Codd, ARNP, FNP-BC, AG-ACNP-BC, CLS, at Woodlands Vein Center & Preventative Medicine Clinic in Shenandoah, Texas, uses vascular ultrasound studies to accurately diagnose and develop personalized treatment strategies and preventive care plans for varicose veins, venous insufficiency, and plaque buildup in the arteries. For outstanding health care you can rely on, schedule a visit today by calling the office or booking an appointment online.
Vascular Ultrasound Q&A
Why would I need a vascular ultrasound?
A vascular ultrasound uses high-frequency soundwaves to provide real-time video images of blood flow through different regions of your body.
Your provider may recommend the study to confirm a diagnosis, such as venous insufficiency or to:
- Evaluate the carotid arteries that supply blood to your brain
- Identify narrowing (stenosis) of peripheral arteries, related to plaque formation
- Check blood flow to your kidneys or other major organs
- Locate blood clots (deep venous thrombosis or DVT) in major veins of the legs or arms
- Assess varicose veins
Vascular ultrasound may also help evaluate the effectiveness of a previous procedure, such as angioplasty and stenting in an artery supplying blood to your legs.
What happens during a vascular ultrasound?
Performed in-office at Woodlands Vein Center & Preventive Medicine Clinic, a vascular ultrasound generally takes 30-40 minutes to complete.
After changing into a hospital gown, you can expect to lie comfortably on an exam table for the study. Most are done while you’re face up, but you may be asked to turn onto your side depending on the area under study.
During the study, your provider places a small hand-held device called a transducer firmly against your skin. She then moves it carefully over the area under investigation.
Transmitted to a nearby computer, the inaudible sound waves produced by the transducer reflect off moving blood cells and capture real-time images of blood flow through your veins or arteries, which are recorded as a video for later review.
Once the study is complete, you’re free to leave and resume normal activities. Normally, your provider contacts you regarding the results once they have had time to review the test carefully.
What are the benefits of a vascular ultrasound?
Vascular ultrasounds offer many benefits, including:
- Noninvasive study that’s typically well-tolerated
- Quick and essentially painless
- Convenient in-office procedure
- No complicated preparation necessary
- Reliable results
- No recovery time required
- Extremely safe with no radiation used during the study
- Provides a clear image of soft tissue structures that don’t show up well on standard X-rays
Note that while vascular ultrasounds are painless, you may experience mild discomfort as the transducer passes over an area of tenderness, such as an irritated varicose vein.
For an accurate diagnosis and customized treatment plan regarding conditions that may be affecting your circulatory health, schedule a visit at Woodlands Vein Center & Preventative Medicine Clinic today. Call the office or schedule your evaluation online.
