Vascular Procedures
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
The Ankle-brachial Index (ABI) is a noninvasive way to diagnose plaque build up in your leg arteries. It compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the pressure in your arm. Blood pressures will also be taken in your upper thigh, above the knee and below the knee. Normally, the blood pressures in your ankle and arm should be about equal. But if your ankle pressure is half your arm pressure (or lower), your leg arteries are probably narrowed. The ABI helps your physician diagnose aortoiliac disease, but it does not identify which arteries are blocked. You will lay down on a table while the test is performed. If needed, you may need to perform leg exercises to assess how your vessels react to the exercise. No preparation is needed prior to the test. The test will last 20-30 minutes.
Lower Extremity Arterial Ultrasound
This is an ultrasound test that uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate the arteries that provide a blood supply to the legs. 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 1½ hours. At least two days before the ultrasound you will have an ABI test. This measures the pressures in different segments of the body and is used for correlation. The morning of the ultrasound you should not have breakfast, chew gum, or smoke. This allows for better visualization of the vessels. You may take medications as prescribed with small sips of water. Indications for this test include but are not limited to: claudication (pain in the buttocks, or any part of the leg with exercise) and non-healing sores on the lower leg or foot.
Renal Ultrasound
This is an ultrasound test that uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate the arteries that provide a blood supply to the kidneys. 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 1½ hours. The morning of the ultrasound you should not have breakfast, chew gum, or smoke. This allows for better visualization of the vessels. You may take medications as prescribed with small sips of water. Uncontrolled hypertension is the primary indication for the test.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact our office at (360) 373-2547.
