Vascular Ultrasound

• Vascular ultrasound imaging is the examination of the body’s circulatory system.

• It is performed for:

• DVT Deep vein thrombosis ( blood clot ) in arms or legs

• Arteries for flow limiting stenosis (usually leg arteries)

• Peripheral veins to assess varicosities and venous reflux (insufficiency)

• Thoracic outlet syndrome

• Swollen legs or arms sometimes caused by a blood clot.

• Pain in the legs after walking a certain distance is sometimes caused by reduced

• Arterial blood flow to the legs by disease (intermittent claudication).

• Varicose veins.

Blood clots may form when something slows or changes the flow of blood in the veins.

Risk factors include:

• After a pacemaker catheter has been passed through the vein in the groin

• Bed rest

• Cigarette smoking

• Family history of blood clots

• Fractures in the pelvis or legs

• Giving birth within the last 6 months

• Heart failure

• Obesity

• Recent surgery (especially hip, knee, or female pelvic surgery)

• Too many blood cells being made by the bone marrow (polycythemia vera), causing the blood to be thicker and slower than normal

You're also more likely to develop DVT if you have any of the following conditions:

• Blood that is more likely to clot (hypercoagulability)

• Cancer

• Taking estrogens or birth control pills. This risk is even higher if you smoke.

DVTs are most common in adults over age 60, but can occur at any age.
Sitting for long periods when traveling can increase the risk of DVTs. This is most likely when one or more of the risk factors listed above are also present