Carotid & Extremity Vascular Testing
What is it and how will it help?
When fatty deposits build up on the arteries in your neck, arms or legs, these blood vessels can begin to narrow or harden. This is called peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also commonly referred to as peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Depending on the location of the blockage, peripheral vascular disease can lead to strokes, transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or pain in the legs during walking (claudication).
Carotid and vascular extremity testing helps to identify peripheral vascular disease and guide your doctor in treatment.
Duplex ultrasound diagnoses and investigates:
- PAD in the legs
- Carotid (neck) artery disease
- Kidney artery disease
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Chronic vein disease and varicose veins
How it's done
Ultrasound is the primary test for peripheral vascular disease. This is a non-invasive and completely painless way for your doctor to assess the blood flow through important arteries. This procedure does not require the needles, dyes, radiation, or anesthesia.
In the case of a carotid ultrasound, our staff places a sensor is placed on the side of your neck. In the case of a leg ultrasound, we place the probe outside of your legs. Sound waves are then bounced off your blood vessels, creating a picture of the blood flowing through them and revealing any blockages.
This test typically takes from 30 to 60 minutes.
Other tests used to diagnose peripheral arterial disease are:
- Ankle-brachial index (ABI)
- Pulse volume recording
- CT angiogram
- MR angiogram
- Contrast angiogram
- Blood Tests
- Exercise tests
- Venography
- Imaging test for PAD
Technology and expertise at Lee Health
Lee Health provides the most up-to-date ultrasound equipment for carotid and vascular extremity testing.
Who to contact
If you need to schedule carotid or extremity vascular testing, please call us at (239) 424-1499.
For questions related to cardiovascular care or services, email us at hearts@leehealth.org