3 Ways a Vascular Ultrasound Can Help You
If you have been diagnosed with a problem which affects your vascular system, it is likely that the specialist will want to conduct an ultrasound. A vascular ultrasound can provide the surgeon who will be treating your condition with lots of useful information. Below is a guide to how a vascular ultrasound can be used to assess your health and the treatment you will receive. Read on to find out more.
Identifying secondary causes
While a vascular ultrasound is primarily used to identify issues which directly affect the circulatory system, it can also be used to establish if there are any secondary causes of your medical issues. For example, if your doctor conducts a vascular ultrasound on the trunk of your body, they can check the condition of vital organs such as your liver and your kidneys. If there are any abnormal growths or areas of damage within these organs, they will be spotted on the ultrasound.
Measuring the flow of blood
When carrying out a vascular ultrasound, one of the things which the doctor will be monitoring is the flow of blood through the part of your body which is affected by your health complaint. The images produced by the ultrasound will allow the surgeon to identify any arteries which have narrowed or which have become blocked. Narrow and blocked arteries are a leading cause of heart-related conditions such as heart attack or stroke. Once the doctor has identified which areas of your circulatory system are narrow or blocked, they will be able to plan the surgery so they can treat the problem.
Determining the best course of treatment
Once your vascular surgeon has completed their assessment using the ultrasound, they will produce a report which details their findings. You will then be invited to meet with the surgeon so they can talk you through the results. The results will help you and the surgeon to decide on the best course of treatment. For example, if the vascular ultrasound shows that blood flow to your heart is severely affected, surgery may be too risky, and so your doctor may recommend controlling the problem using medication or by making changes to your lifestyle or diet. On the other hand, if the ultrasound shows that the problem can be operated on safety, you may opt to undergo a procedure such as angioplasty.
If you would like further information, you should contact a vascular surgeon today.
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