Cardiac/Carotid/Lower Extremity Ultrasounds

What are ultrasounds?

Ultrasound technology uses sound waves to create moving images of your organs and blood vessels. Ultrasounds are valuable for assessing your heart function and evaluating circulation problems in your arteries and veins.

The ultrasound device sends out high-pitched sound waves that you can’t hear. The sound waves bounce back off your heart or blood vessels and return to the computer system, translating them into images on a screen.

What cardiovascular ultrasounds might I need?

Heart Clinic of Hammond uses several kinds of cardiovascular ultrasounds, including:

Transthoracic echocardiogram

For a transthoracic echocardiogram, your provider passes the handpiece over your chest using a slippery gel to avoid friction and increase the scan’s effectiveness.

Transesophageal echocardiogram

You might need a transesophageal echocardiogram if a transthoracic one can’t penetrate your chest wall, which could happen when there’s scar tissue or fat in the way. This kind of echocardiogram is more invasive because your provider feeds the transducer down your esophagus until it’s level with your heart.

To ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure, you have a sedative and your provider sprays a local anesthetic into your throat.

Stress echocardiogram

A stress echocardiogram involves exercising to raise your heart rate. Alternatively, you can take medication to simulate the effects if you’re too sick to exercise.

Carotid Doppler ultrasound

A carotid Doppler ultrasound scan uses the Doppler effect. Doppler describes the changes in sound wave frequency as they leave their source. Your doctor uses Doppler ultrasound to produce images of the speed and blood flow direction through your carotid arteries.

Venous ultrasound

Venous ultrasound imaging helps your doctor locate blockages and other issues affecting blood flow through the veins in your body.

Why might I need cardiovascular ultrasounds?

Cardiovascular ultrasounds are valuable diagnostic tools for conditions affecting your heart and circulation, including:

• Carotid artery disease
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
• Chronic leg swelling
• Tumors
• Vascular abnormalities
• Reduced or increased blood flow
• Heart valve disease
• Holes in the heart

The Heart Clinic of Hammond doctors also use ultrasound for other purposes, like guiding needles during injections or placing a catheter for a minimally invasive coronary intervention.

Your doctor can map your veins to find and remove the best ones for a bypass. They can also use ultrasound to examine a blood vessel graft when you’re receiving dialysis for kidney failure.

To find out more about the advanced ultrasound technology Heart Clinic of Hammond has on-site, call the office or book an appointment online today.