INTRODUCTIONThis brochure provides a general overview of the vascular examination process. Please be aware that your individual situation may differ from that described. You will soon undergo a vascular examination. This examination can provide information about the blood flow in your vessels (arteries or veins). A vascular examination is performed on people who experience pain in their legs while walking, which is thought to be caused by a narrowing of the blood vessels. This condition is also commonly known as "window-shopping legs." This method of examination can also be used on people with varicose veins or a leg ulcer (leg ulcer).WHAT IS A VASCULAR EXAMINATION?During a Doppler scan, a vascular technician uses sound waves to listen to your blood flow. Blood pressure is then measured in both legs and arms. A duplex scan combines sound waves (Doppler) and ultrasound. This allows you to make blood flow not only audible but also visible. Another vascular scan is the walking test: depending on your condition, you may also perform this test. During this test, you indicate when and where you experience pain while walking on a treadmill. All these tests take place in the vascular lab and together last approximately 30 to 40 minutes.PREPARING FOR THE EXAMINATIONIt's important to start the examination well-rested. We therefore ask that you arrive ten minutes early to allow your body time to settle. Because you will need to remove your shoes, top, or skirt for the examination, we recommend wearing comfortable clothing. The vascular technician will record your height and weight and then ask you to lie down on the examination table.THE DOPPLER STUDYListening to your blood vessels is painless. This is done with an instrument the size of a ballpoint pen and conductive gel applied to your skin. The sound waves emitted by the instrument are reflected by the blood flowing through your arteries. The instrument then picks up the waves again, and this signal is made audible and visible by the Doppler device. The sound you hear is an amplification of this signal. This noise is normal. If there is a narrowing in the artery, the reflected sound changes. These waves are visible on a monitor. A record of each blood vessel examined is made on a strip of paper.DURING THE RESEARCHTo listen to the blood vessels in the backs of your knees, you will need to lie on your stomach. After the examination of the backs of your knees, you will be asked to lie on your back. The vascular technician will then examine your groin and ankles in the same way.MEASURING BLOOD PRESSUREThe second part of the examination consists of measuring your blood pressure. For this, you will be given three blood pressure cuffs on each leg: one on your ankles, calves, and thighs, and one on each arm. Each cuff is inflated and slowly deflated separately. The pressure measurement in your legs may be slightly painful. You will experience the least discomfort if you lie down and relax. The vascular technician will record the results of each blood pressure measurement. The vascular technician will then remove the cuffs, and you can step off the examination table. The differences in the measured blood pressures provide an impression of the blood vessels between them, which can be used to identify any narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels.THE DUPLEX STUDYA duplex scan combines sound waves (Doppler) and ultrasound. The duplex scan is similar to the Doppler scan. By combining it with ultrasound, the location and severity of blood vessel blockages can be assessed with great precision.THE WALKING TESTTo determine how quickly symptoms develop while walking, a walking test is sometimes performed. You walk a maximum of 300 meters on a treadmill at a walking pace (2.5 to 3 km/h). It's important that you immediately report where and when you feel pain and whether the pain changes while walking. The vascular technician will then measure your blood pressure again in both ankles and arms and record the values.AFTER THE RESEARCHAfter the examination, you will get dressed again. We aim to schedule your appointment with the vascular surgeon as soon as possible. Your doctor will discuss the results of the examination with you. |
