Vascular ultrasound provides detailed pictures of the body’s veins and arteries, making specific clots and blockages easier to identify. Vascular ultrasound produces real-time results, showing the velocity and direction of blood flow. Cardiologist Arash Bereliani, MD, medical director of the Beverly Hills Institute for Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, finds this procedure especially helpful in identifying vascular diseases at earlier stages so he can intervene with the appropriate treatment.
What is a vascular ultrasound and why do we use it?
Vascular ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize the body’s circulatory system. Concentrating on blood vessels, high-frequency sound waves bounce back at different intervals depending on blood pressure, clots and other abnormalities; these are transformed into images that accurately represent blood flow. Vascular ultrasounds are extremely useful diagnostic tools. There are two major subdivisions of vascular ultrasounds: arterial ultrasound and venous ultrasound.
Arterial ultrasound is used to look for blockages and reduced blood flow in the arteries. This technique is especially helpful in evaluating patients with leg pain, where it may reveal peripheral artery disease (PAD), a form of atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) affecting the arteries in the legs. If you have PAD, you are more likely to have plaque in other arteries of the body, putting you at increased risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Carotid ultrasound is a type of arterial ultrasound that focuses on the carotid arteries in the neck.
Venous ultrasound is primarily conducted to detect deep venous thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that occurs most often in the legs. The danger of DVT is that the clot can break loose and travel directly to the heart—causing heart attack, and to the lungs—causing pulmonary embolism. People who spend expended periods of time in a seated position without moving – such as on long airplane flights – are at higher risk for developing DVT; in one case a young teenager developed a case of DVT after a prolonged gaming session where he sat on his legs. Pregnancy, smoking, and taking birth-control pills are also major risk factors.
What are the benefits of vascular ultrasounds?
Dr. Bereliani, as a doctor who specializes in preventive cardiology, emphasizes the use of early diagnostic techniques to prevent diseases from intensifying. Vascular ultrasound is an excellent way for Dr. Bereliani to identify not only peripheral vascular problems, i.e., vascular problems of the legs, but to be on the alert for — and correct — further associated problems, such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
How do I find out if a vascular ultrasound might be appropriate for me?
Call the Beverly Hills Institute for Preventive Medicine and Cardiology to make an appointment. Our friendly, helpful staff will be glad to schedule a consultation for you with Dr. Bereliani, and to answer any questions you might have. We are conveniently located in the heart of Beverly Hills, within easy driving distance for most residents of greater Los Angeles.
