What to expect from the Vascular Lab
If you are experiencing signs of peripheral arterial disease or show other symptoms that may be related to vascular conditions, your doctor may recommend one or more tests in CORE’s Vascular Lab.
These are non-invasive, ultrasound-based tests that measure the blood flow in major veins and arteries.
Vascular Lab tests can reveal blockages caused by plaque build-up in your arteries, blood clots in your veins, as well as possible signs of aneurysm (a weakening or bulging of an artery).
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend any of the following non-invasive tests:
- Upper and Lower Arterial Duplex
- Ankle Brachial Index
- Renal Duplex
- Lower Extremity Venous Duplex
- Venous Perforator Mapping
- Upper Extremity Venous Duplex
- Carotid Duplex
- Duplex Scan of Hemodialysis
- Duplex Vein Mapping Crea
Preparation for the Vascular Lab
There is little or no preparation necessary for most patients who are scheduled to have tests in the Vascular Lab. If your visit will involve tests in the intestines and other structures in the abdomen, you may be asked to refrain from eating or drinking after dinner the night before your test. This restriction would include water, coffee, chewing gum and mints.
When you arrive for your test, you may be asked to disrobe and put on a gown or sheet to allow the technician access to the part of the body being tested.
After your Vascular Lab visit
There is no recovery necessary from these minimally invasive tests. Your physician will receive the results of your diagnostic tests in approximately two business days.
If results to these non-invasive tests are inconclusive, your physician may recommend additional tests such as an angiogram or computed tomography angiogram (CTA).