What is Peripheral Vascular Disease

The term "Vascular" used interchangeably with "circulatory," refers to the whole network of vessels that carry blood through the body: arteries and veins.

Vascular disease refers to changes or disorders that occur in your blood vessels which prevent the normal flow of blood. Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) refers to the changes in the arteries and veins outside the heart.

Purpose

• To diagnose the disease of the arteries and veins.
• To monitor patient(s) who have had arterial reconstructions and by-pass.
• To detect abnormalities in the arterial blood flow.
• To detect venous disease.

Procedures

• You will be asked to remove clothing from below or above the waist, depending upon the procedure, leaving undergarments on.
• You will be asked to lie on the table.
• A conductive gel will be placed over your arms or legs to improve the transmission of sound waves.

** This is a non-invasive,and painless procedure. It does not involve needles or injections.

Symptoms and Findings

Indications like pain in arms or legs, poor or no pulse, numbness or tingling, inability to move legs or arms, swelling of arms or legs, enlargement of superficial vein, heaviness of the limb, cramping, pain while walking, changes in skin color or temperatures, loss of hair on toes or feet.

Risk Factors

Past history, obesity, drug therapy, cancer, injury, cardiac disease, age over 40, surgery, blood disorders, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, stress, and smoking.

What Is Involved In This Testing?

1. Ultrasound

The small transducer will be held against your body and emit harmless sound waves; these waves bounce off the peripheral vessels and back to the transducer. The transducer sends this data to a computer which translates the information to a monitor. From the monitor the image is stored on a video tape, or a computer printout. These images are used to see the structures and blood flow of the vessels and any occlusion.

2. Doppler

A doppler ultrasound is used in the same way by bouncing sound waves off the blood vessels to view blood flow pattern.

3. Pressures, Waves

This test uses a pressure cuff and a hand held doppler to determine pressure in your arms and legs. Your blood pressure will be taken at this time.

4. Duplex Scan

This test combines the doppler microphone device with an image of the vessel on a T.V. like screen. It is usually performed on peripheral vessels.

What We can Diagnose by Non-invasive Testing (Ultrasound)

Any blockage in the vessels.

General Information

Peripheral vascular testing is quicker, safer, painless, and less expensive than an arteriogram or a venogram. It is also accurate in detecting massive blockages.

Who does the peripheralvascular testing?

Physicians with specialized knowledge in reading the vascular images, and the sonographers, highly trained experts in the use of vascular technology.

Time

This procedure takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

Results

Your results are sent to your doctors after testing is done.

Preparations

None.

If you have any questions,just ask your physician or any member of our trained health care team.