Vascular Investigation consists of one or a combination of laboratory tests which include imaging the blood vessels with a duplex scan or measuring the blood flow and pressure in the vascular system using specialised machines.
A duplex scan is an ultrasound scan that uses high frequency sound waves to image the blood vessels in the body to assess their potency and to document any abnormalities.
The following symptoms are indications that a duplex scan of the system may be required:-
Duplex scan is a painless procedure with no known side effects.
Before the start of the scan, your medical history will be noted and a physical measurement will be carried out to detect conditions such as presence of pulses, pain, ulcers or swelling. You may be required to change into a gown.
You will be asked to lie on your back and a coupling gel will be applied to the intended area to ensure a good transmission of the ultrasound.
The blood vessels will be examined and an assessment will be made from the images on the screen. The images will also be video-taped and kept as a record.
The whole procedure will take between one to two hours depending on the type of investigation requested. A report will be sent to your doctor who will discuss the results with you on your subsequent clinic consultation.
For an abdominal scan, you are required to fast at least eight hours before the scan to eliminate gas in the abdomen.
For all other scans, you may eat, go about your normal activity and continue to take medications prescribed by your doctor, unless otherwise informed.
You can carry out normal activities before and after the scan.
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