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Patient receiving a vascular ultrasound in a hospital room

What is a vascular ultrasound?

Vascular ultrasounds are noninvasive imaging tests that use high-frequency sound waves to create images, also known as sonograms, of your arteries and veins. Also called vascular sonography, it reveals the movement and structure of your internal organs and how blood flows within your vessels.

Your vascular system is made up of an intricate system of blood vessels that bring blood to and from vital organs, including your heart and brain. Vascular ultrasounds can help you and your physician identify vascular diseases that increase your risk for heart attacks, strokes and other serious conditions, allowing you to be proactive about your health.

When is a vascular ultrasound performed?

Your provider may recommend vascular ultrasound if you have symptoms of the following conditions:

  • Atherosclerosis, when the arteries become narrowed and hardened due to the buildup of plaque
  • Blood clots
  • Carotid artery disease
  • Carotid artery stenosis, the narrowing of one or both carotid arteries
  • Deep vein thrombosis or leg swelling
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysms 
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
  • Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
  • Varicose veins

You may also need ultrasound imaging if your doctor wants to:

  • Assess whether a treatment or procedure is treating your condition effectively
  • Help determine whether you may benefit from a treatment such as angioplasty
  • Monitor blood flow to organs and tissues

Types of vascular ultrasound

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following vascular ultrasounds: 

Aortic ultrasound

An aortic ultrasound produces a sonogram that can help your doctor determine the size of your aorta, a large artery that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The images can detect aneurysms, or bulges, that can develop in the abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysms) or chest (thoracic aortic aneurysms). These scans can also help your doctor monitor the growth of previously identified aneurysms.

Carotid ultrasound

A carotid ultrasound, also known as a carotid artery sonogram, can help your doctor better understand whether carotid artery stenosis is increasing your risk of a stroke. The carotid arteries are the main arteries responsible for supplying blood to your brain, and narrowing may prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching your brain.

Venous ultrasound

A venous ultrasound, also known as a venous sonogram, assesses blood flow to the legs to detect deep vein thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis can cause severe, even fatal, complications, and a sonogram allows you to be proactive about treating these blood clots.

Ankle brachial index (ABI)

An ankle-brachial index (ABI) test measures blood pressure in your arms and legs. It helps your provider determine whether narrowing or a blockage in an artery or blood vessel is reducing blood flow to your extremities.

What to expect with vascular ultrasound

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Before a vascular ultrasound

Vascular ultrasounds don’t require much special preparation. You may receive instructions specific to your test, but in general, you may need to:

  • Avoid eating or drinking for a few hours before your test.
  • Take any medications as prescribed.
  • Wear a two-piece outfit (no dresses, jumpsuits or overalls).

During a vascular ultrasound

Before your exam begins, a sonographer will place gel on the area being examined. Then, they’ll use a device called a transducer that sends sound waves through your skin. These sound waves return to the transducer, and a computer translates them into images that give your provider a clear view of issues in your aorta, carotid arteries and veins.

Aorta and venous ultrasounds take about one hour. A carotid ultrasound takes about 30 minutes.

After a vascular ultrasound

After the exam, the technologist will wipe away any residual gel. You can return to work or other activities immediately after the ultrasound.
doctor going over the results of a vascular ultrasound

The results

After your ultrasound, your sonographer will send your images to your referring physician, who will review your results and compare them with any previous tests you’ve had.

Based on the results, your doctor may recommend other tests to confirm a diagnosis. If the ultrasound leads to a diagnosis or reveals a problem, you and your physician can work together on a treatment plan.

Find a location near you

Vascular ultrasounds are available at Baylor Scott & White locations across Central and North Texas. If your ultrasound leads to a diagnosis, you can access comprehensive vascular care at a location convenient to you.

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