Kitsap Cardiology Consultants Ultrasound Procedures
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test that uses high-frequency sound waves to look at the inside of the heart. It shows how well the heart muscle and valves are working and accurately measures the size of the heart. The length of the test is approximately one hour. For more information about this test, visit The American Society of Echocardiography’s website. There are no special instructions for this procedure.
Carotid Doppler
This is an ultrasound test that uses high-frequency sound waves to look at the inside of the carotid arteries in the neck. The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain and this test is used to determine if there is any plaque or blockage in the arteries. Plaque, narrowing, or blockage can be a cause for stroke. The length of the test is approximately 1 hour. No special instructions.
Right to Left Shunt Study
This test is done to find out if there is abnormal flow of blood from the venous side of the circulation to the arterial side. Before the procedure, an IV will be inserted into a vein in your arm. A normal saline solution is injected into the vein through the IV. An ultrasound machine is used to detect the presence of this saline solution in the arterial circulation. The length of the test is approximately 30 minutes. No special instructions.
Abdominal Aorta Duplex
This is an ultrasound test that uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate the abdominal aorta that provides the main blood supply to the body. This procedure is non-invasive, which means there are no needles, dyes, radiation or anesthesia and is a relatively painless and harmless procedure. The length of the test is approximately 30 minutes. The morning of the ultrasound you should not have breakfast, chew gum, or smoke and you should drink only small sips of water. This allows for better visualization of the aorta. You may take medications as prescribed. A pulsatile abdominal mass or a known abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are the primary indications for the test.
Renal Artery Ultrasound
This is an ultrasound test that uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate the renal arteries, the arteries that carry blood to the kidney. These arteries may narrow or become blocked and this may result in kidney failure or high blood pressure. Imaging of the renal arteries can be extremely difficult and this test most often is performed in the morning on an empty stomach. The morning of the ultrasound you should not have breakfast, chew gum, or smoke and you should drink only small sips of water. You may take medications as prescribed. This procedure is non-invasive, which means it is a relatively painless and harmless procedure. The length of the test is approximately 90 minutes.
Peripheral Arterial Scan
This is an ultrasound test that uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate the arteries that provide a blood supply to the legs. Arteries are blood vessels that take oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all parts of the body. This test is used to determine if there is any peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which is a term for plaque or blockage in the arteries in the legs. The morning of the ultrasound you should not have breakfast, chew gum, or smoke and you should drink only small sips of water. You may take medications as prescribed. This procedure is non-invasive, which means it is a relatively painless and harmless procedure. The length of the test is approximately 90 minutes.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact our office at 360 373-2547.