Abdominal Aorta/Renal Study

Your doctor has scheduled you for an Abdominal/Renal Ultrasound Study. This is a safe study that images the internal organs of the abdomen including the large abdominal aorta and proximal iliac arteries that branch off your heart and extend down into the abdomen and bifurcates into the iliac arteries that supply blood to your lower extremities (legs). Also, main arteries branch off the aorta to supply all the other organs and vessels in the abdomen. The blood vessels to some of these organs can be evaluated with the use of Doppler ultrasound.

The renal arteries are an example of these arteries and the renal arteries supply blood to the kidneys. This ultrasound test demonstrates blood flow to the kidneys utilizing both high frequency sound waves, which reflect off body structures to create a visual picture on the screen of the ultrasound machine plus Doppler wave form patterns and color flow imaging. There is no ionizing radiation exposure with this test.

The test is done in the ultrasound lab. You will be lying down for the procedure. A clear, water-based conducting gel is applied to the skin over the area being examined to help with the transmission of the sound waves. The hand-held transducer probe is then moved over the abdomen. You may be asked to move to other positions to examine different areas. You may be asked to hold your breath for short periods of time during the exam. The procedure usually takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. Sometimes the test may have to be repeated if there is excess bowel gas or if you have eaten or had something to drink shortly before the test.

Preparation for Test: You should not have any-thing to eat or drink after midnight, (NPO). Routine medications may be taken. If you are diabetic, consult with your physician. If you are pregnant, consult with your physician before having the Doppler portion of this test. You will be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.

TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAM

Your doctor has scheduled you for a two-dimensional echocardiogram. This is a safe, comfortable, non-invasive test for evaluation of heart function. There is no special preparation for this test, but it would be helpful if you would wear a shirt or blouse for easy access to your chest area.

The principle of the test is similar to that of sonar. A special instrument called a transducer projects high frequency sound waves through the chest wall into the heart. The transducer is also capable of acting as a receiver of sound waves that are reflected from various structures reconstructed to form images of the different components of the heart such as heart muscle and heart valves. The test is also very sensitive at detecting abnormal fluid collections around the heart. There are no known complications or side effects related to the use of such high frequency sound waves to image the heart. The time required for performance of this test is approximately 45-60 minutes. You should report to our office at least ten minutes prior to your scheduled exam. If you have any questions regarding this test, please call 387-0948 and someone will assist you.

DUPLEX CAROTID IMAGING

Your doctor has scheduled you for duplex carotid imaging. This is a safe, comfortable, non-invasive test for evaluation of the carotid arteries. There is no special preparation for this test, but it would be helpful if you would wear a shirt or blouse for easy access to your chest and neck area.

The principle for the test is similar to that of sonar. A special instrument called a transducer projects high frequency sound waves through the neck where the carotid arteries are located. This transducer is also capable of acting as a receiver of sound waves that are reflected from the various structures within the neck. These sound waves are then reconstructed to form images of the carotid arteries. The test is very sensitive at detecting narrowing of these arteries. There are no known complications or side effects related to the use of such high frequency sound waves to image the carotid arteries.

The time required for performance of this test is approximately 45-60 minutes.

Peripheral Vascular Study
(Arterial or Venous)

Your doctor has scheduled you for a Peripheral Vascular Study. This is a study that demonstrates by ultrasound imaging and Doppler the blood flow through the network of vessels both arteries or veins in the upper and lower extremities (arms and legs). This test is done in the ultrasound lab and you will be lying down for the procedure. A clear water-based conducting gel will be placed over your arms and legs to improve the transmission of sound waves. A small transducer will be held against your skin and will emit harmless sound waves which bounce off the peripheral vessels and back to the transducer and this translates the information to a monitor screen. Doppler ultrasound is used in the same way by bouncing sound waves off the blood vessels to view the blood flow. If you are having an arterial exam, blood pressures may be taken on both arms and legs. If you are having a venous exam, you may be asked to hold your breath for short intervals during the exam. There is no ionizing radiation exposure with this procedure.

Preparation for the Test: There is no preparation for the test. You will be asked to remove clothing from below or above the waist, depending on the procedure, leaving undergarments on. The time usually required for this test is approximately 45-60 minutes.

STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM

Your doctor has scheduled you to undergo a Stress Echocardiogram. This is a non-invasive test to evaluate blood flow to the heart muscle before and after exercise. This is accompanied by observing the pumping action of the walls of your heart with ultrasound beam. The test consists of a treadmill exercise test combined with an ultrasound heart scan. The principle of the ultrasound heart scan is similar to that of sonar. A special instrument called a transducer projects high frequency sound waves through the chest wall into the heart. There are no known complications or side effects related to the use of such high frequency sound waves to image the heart.

The echo will be performed before and after the treadmill and will take approximately 10-15 minutes before and 2-5 minutes after the treadmill. After completion of the first echo, you will be connected to an EGK machine which does require some preparation of the skin and for males may require shaving of the chest. Your doctor will arrive at this point to supervise the treadmill portion of the test. During this portion of the procedure, you will walk on a treadmill for a period of time to be determined by your doctor depending on your degree of physical conditioning. Complications related to treadmill testing itself are very rare but can include prolonged chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm, fainting spells, and rarely, heart attacks. Patient deaths related to this procedure have been reported but are extremely rare. At the conclusion of exercise, you will immediately undergo the second echo.

Preparation for Test: Do not eat or drink for at least 4 hours prior to test. Please wear pants or shorts and comfortable shoes for walking on the treadmill. Please report to our office 30 minutes prior to your scheduled test.