Advanced Vascular Imaging Services

Yale New Haven Hospital's accredited Advanced Vascular Imaging Services offers cutting-edge technology and expertise to diagnose vascular diseases.


Advanced Treatment Options

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.

Services include:

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:
  • Pain in the chest, abdomen, lower back, and sometimes the groin or buttocks
  • Pulsating mass or lump in the abdomen
  • Family history of aneurysms
  • Men over the age of 60 who also have a history of smoking
Renal exam, dialysis access site and vein mapping.

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:
  • Numbness, weakness or inability to move the face, arm or leg especially on one side of the body
  • Trouble seeing (dimness, blurring, double vision or loss of vision)
  • Difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of coordination
  • Confusion or difficulty speaking

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:
  • Pain, abnormal coloring or weak or undetectable pulses in the arms or legs
  • Pain or cramping of the calf, thigh or buttocks
  • Severe pain in the toes or foot
  • A foot or lower extremity sore or wound that does not heal

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:
  • Pain, swelling or tenderness in limbs
  • Bluish discoloration of the skin
  • Abnormal redness of the skin
  • Suspected pulmonary embolism
  • Ulcers or wounds in the ankle region that have difficulty healing

Common Questions About Vascular Imaging

What is the vascular system?

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.

What is vascular disease?

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.

How is vascular disease diagnosed?

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.

What is the diagnostic procedure like?

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.

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