Vascular Associates of South Alabama perform vascular ultrasounds near Daphne, Alabama. A vascular ultrasound is a quick, easy, and painless way for vascular specialists to take a look at the inner workings of your body. This non-invasive diagnostic tool can detect potential problems with a patient's veins and arteries. If you need a vascular ultrasound, our highly-trained ultrasound technicians can administer one for you in our state-of-the-art endovascular lab, located just a short drive away in Mobile, AL.
Please call to schedule an appointment for a vascular ultrasound!
Vascular Ultrasounds Near the Baldwin County Eastern Shore
What is a Vascular Ultrasound?
You're probably familiar with ultrasounds and associate them with pregnancy. The same ultrasound technology that monitors fetal growth and development is also used in many other branches of medicine. Like other ultrasounds, a vascular ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves, which are perfectly safe and don't contain the harmful radiation found in x-rays. A vascular ultrasound uses these harmless sound waves to capture an image of a person's arteries and veins. Ultrasound imaging helps vascular specialists assess the health of the veins and arteries. Vascular ultrasounds allow physicians to diagnose diseases as well as manage treatment of vascular conditions.
What Happens During a Vascular Ultrasound?
The process of receiving a vascular ultrasound is painless and easy. It doesn't take long, and there is no down-time afterwards. You'll be able to return to your usual activities as soon as it's over!
Here's what you can expect:
- The room will be darkened.
Darkening the room makes it easier for the ultrasound specialist or physician to see images on the monitor.
- Patients may be asked to wear a medical dressing gown.
Depending on the part of the body being evaluated, a medical dressing gown may be necessary to provide better access for the ultrasound device.
- Patients may be asked to move around during the ultrasound.
If the physician is monitoring leg vessels, the patient may need to walk on a treadmill or make other types of physical movements. This allows us to better observe circulation during different levels of physical activity.
There are just a few steps involved in a vascular ultrasound:
- A special gel is applied to the skin above the area being evaluated. This gel makes it easier for the ultrasound to "see" through the skin, and it also helps the hand-held ultrasound transducer glide more smoothly over the skin.
- The ultrasound technician passes the transducer over the skin of the affected area. Gentle pressure is applied in order to gather the clearest, most detailed images possible. This hand-held device sends sound waves through the skin and tissue, then captures them when they bounce back off organs and other structures in the body.
- The data gathered by the transducer is instantly transmitted to a computer nearby. The computer interprets the wave data and uses it to create images, which appear on the ultrasound monitor. The physician can observe and interpret these images immediately, and they will also be saved for future evaluation and reference.
- After the ultrasound evaluation is complete, the gel is wiped away and the patient will be able to resume normal activities right away.
Schedule a Vascular Ultrasound Near Daphne, Alabama
If you need a vascular ultrasound and live anywhere in Baldwin County, the experts at Vascular Associates of South Alabama can help. Give us a call to schedule an appointment, or contact us online. We have five locations in the area, including one in Fairhope, AL. Our state-of-the-art endovascular lab is located just across the bay, in Mobile, AL.
If you have any concerns about your vascular health, Vascular Associates of South Alabama would be happy to assist you. We provide comprehensive vascular care and are available to discuss your symptoms and possible treatment options. New patients are welcome, and we accept most major medical insurance plans.