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ULTRASOUND / VASCULAR ECHOCARDIOGRAM

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing part of the body to high frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (x-ray).  Because ultrasound images are captured in real time, they show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.

Ultrasound imaging is usually a medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.  Vascular ultrasound provides picture4s of the body’s veins and arteries.

Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including the body’s major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms legs and neck.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound) uses sound waves to produce images of the heart as is beating. This enables your doctor to evaluate your heart valves. The strength and thickness of your heart muscle and the size of the chambers in your heart.

Cardiac Doppler – The cardiac doppler reveals the speed and direction of blood flow within the heart. Cardiac doppler is helpful in evaluating valve function. The doppler uses sound waves which reflect off moving red blood cells within the heart chambers.  It is usually performed with the 2-D echocardiograms. Color flow mapping is usually done in conjunction with the doppler test. It shows speed and direction of blood flow, but the images are in color. The color allows physicians to “map” abnormalities in blood flow.

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These procedures are by appointment only. Please call our office at (956) 971-0077 to schedule your appointment!