Yale New Haven Hospital's accredited Advanced Vascular Imaging Services offers cutting-edge technology and expertise to diagnose vascular diseases.
Patients diagnosed with vascular disease are treated by a multidisciplinary team that offers a comprehensive array of clinical cardiovascular services, Our specialty physicians are known for their diagnostic, therapeutic and treatment skills and success in performing the most delicate and demanding procedures. These services include vascular ultrasound, noninvasive peripheral arterial studies.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a weakening of the wall of the aorta that causes a widening or "ballooning" of a portion of the artery. An ultrasound can diagnose an aneurysm and determine its size and location.
Signs, Symptoms and Risk Factors of an Abdominal Aorta Aneurysm:A cerebrovascular exam uses ultrasound to examine blood flow in the neck for arteries that supply the brain. The test includes evaluation of the common carotid arteries, external carotid arteries, internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries.
Symptoms Indicating the Need for a Cerebrovascular Exam:An arterial ultrasound exam looks at blood flow in the arteries of the arms, legs or trunk region for signs of blockages or Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).
Signs and Symptoms Indicating the Need for an Arterial Examination:A venous evaluation uses ultrasound to evaluate blood flow and valve function in the veins of the arms and legs and can detect Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), the development of a clot in the deep veins.
Signs and Symptoms Indicating the Need for a Venous Evaluation:The vascular system is made up of blood vessels including arteries, veins and lymph vessels. The arteries and veins carry blood to and from the heart and to the tissues throughout the body.
Vascular diseases involve narrowing of arteries by plaque, which may reduce blood flow through the vessels to the arms, legs, head and neck or to the abdominal organs. In addition, ballooning of the arteries can result in aortic aneurysms.
Vascular testing can provide early detection of abnormalities in the arteries and veins. Registered medical sonographers use state-of-the-art ultrasound technology to produce images of these blood vessels.
The procedures are non-invasive, painless and usually take less than an hour. The sonographer puts gel on the skin and uses an ultrasound probe, which transmits the ultrasound waves, to create the image of the blood vessel. The image helps physicians evaluate the presence and severity of vascular disease.
