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As a system that plays an important role in supporting organs throughout your body, your circulatory system is key in supporting your overall wellbeing. At Champion Vascular Care, we provide vascular ultrasounds in Dunn, NC. Whether you’re a prospective patient or healthcare professional, we’re here to explain more about the vascular ultrasounds we provide and what they can achieve.

Arterial ultrasounds

Arterial ultrasounds measure the amount of blood that’s moving through your vessels. This type of ultrasound is commonly used as a part of a peripheral vascular examination after a clinician finds an abnormality with the circulation in the hands and the feet. In some cases, we’re able to use these types of vascular ultrasounds to detect appropriate vessels for cannulation and medical procedures that involve inserting devices.

Arteriovenous fistula

An arteriovenous fistula is a structure that arises when arteries and veins connect in an abnormal fashion. In many cases, it won’t produce signs and symptoms. When it does, however, your physician may refer you for an arteriovenous fistula scan so we can identify where yours is.

Abdominal aortic vascular ultrasounds

Many older adults throughout the United States suffer from an enlarged abdominal aorta. This is known as an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). Whether or not you require a repair on your AAA depends on its size, as does the frequency of your monitoring. Our AAA scans are precise and will allow you and your physician to make informed decisions about the next stage of your treatment.

Carotid artery

Using vascular ultrasound techniques, we can scan your carotid artery to measure the blood flow there. This is an excellent way to prevent strokes, especially when your physician suspects your carotid artery may be narrowing. In some cases, carotid artery ultrasounds are used as a form of monitoring following certain cardiovascular events.

Leg arterial duplex

Leg arterial duplex scans measure the flow of blood in your legs. They’re usually used when your doctor struggles to find a pulse in the lower portion of your leg if you show signs of claudication (leg pain when walking), if your leg feels cold at the extremities, or if you have ulcers that don’t heal. With this type of vascular ultrasound, they can measure the blood flow and make a decision regarding medications or surgery to improve blood flow.

Renal arterial duplex

Your renal arteries deliver blood to your kidneys and it’s important that they do this with minimal interruption for lots of reasons. Unfortunately, certain types of heart disease, atherosclerosis, and other conditions cause the renal arteries to narrow. When this happens, it’s important for your medical team to monitor the condition so they can help to keep kidney failure at bay. You may require a renal arterial duplex as a one-off scan or you may need it on multiple occasions to monitor chronic kidney disease.

Venous duplex

When your medical team needs to see how the veins that run back to your heart are working, they may request a venous duplex. This may mean scanning your neck, shoulders, arms, legs, ankles, or feet to look at venous return. In addition to highlighting potential clots, a venous duplex scan is good for imaging varicose veins. Once your medical team is aware of potential abnormalities, they can make informed treatment decisions.

At Champion Vascular Care, we offer venous ultrasounds in North Carolina. Our modern clinical facility in Dunn is complemented by a team of professional staff members who work hard to put patients at ease. If you’d like to learn more about our vascular ultrasound services or if you want to make an appointment, call 910-304-1212.