Introduction
This examination may be used to assess your native vessels as well as grafts or stents and provides valuable information to assist your doctor in managing your medical condition.
Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce images without using x-ray dye or radiation and is free of adverse side effects.
Doctors increasingly rely on ultrasound as it uniquely combines high detail imaging with the ability to view blood flowing through the arteries.
At Canberra Specialist Ultrasound we believe a leg artery ultrasound must be clinically relevant to your particular symptoms. You will be asked to identify the area and nature of your complaint.
Our specialist imaging staff use this information to maximise the diagnostic value of the examination.
In cases where restricted blood flow is proven not to be the source of symptoms the examination is extended to search for an alternative diagnosis.
What happens during the scan?
You may be asked to change into a patient gown. Warm gel is applied to your skin and a small hand held probe is moved over the area to produce real time images.
The scan commences in the abdomen and follows the arteries down to the ankle. A leg artery examination will take approximately 30 minutes per leg, although the exact time may vary depending on the information being sought.
A special blood pressure assessment (ankle-brachial index) is also routinely performed to compare the blood pressure in your legs to the pressure in your arms. This test helps determine the clinical significance of any plaque which may be present.
What about the results?
An Accredited Medical Sonographer conducts the ultrasound in close collaboration with a medical specialist Sonologist who will also produce the final report for your doctor.
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