SERVICES OFFERED

 

If you have specific questions regarding our vascular services or varicose vein screening and treatment, please email Katie directly at katie@norcalsurgical.com

 

Carotid ultrasound
Aorta ultrasound
Mesenteric ultrasound
Doppler pressure studies of the lower extremities
Arterial ultrasound (leg)
Venous ultrasound
Gallbladder ultrasound
Thyroid ultrasound
Arterial-venous mapping for hemodialyis access placement

 

Carotid ultrasound:

The carotid ultrasound is usually painless and takes about 30 minutes to perform. There is no prep for this test.

Your carotid ultrasound is performed by a highly specialized technologist called a sonographer. During the exam, you will lie on your back on an examination table and a small amount of gel is applied to your neck. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your skin and the instrument the sonographer uses to see your arteries, called a transducer. The sonographer will then press the transducer against your neck, which sends images to a computer screen. The sonographer monitors your blood flow through the carotid arteries on both sides of your neck to check for narrowing or any other abnormality.

 

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Aorta ultrasound:

The carotid ultrasound is usually painless and takes about 30 minutes to perform. There is no prep for this test.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist called a sonographer. During the exam, you will lie on an examination table and a small amount of warm gel is applied to your abdomen. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your body and the instrument used to see your aorta, called a transducer. The sonographer will then press the transducer against your abdomen, which sends images to a computer screen. The sonographer monitors blood flow through the abdominal aorta to check for an aneurysm or narrowing.

 

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Mesenteric ultrasound:

The mesenteric ultrasound is usually painless and takes about 75 minutes to perform. You are required to fast for 8-10 hours prior to your exam. You may take necessary medications with small sips of water, but nothing more. If you are not fasting, your test will be rescheduled to a different time.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist, called a sonographer. During the exam, you will lie on an examination table and a small amount of gel is applied to your abdomen. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your skin and the instrument used to see your mesenteric arteries, called a transducer. The sonographer will press the transducer against your abdomen, which sends images to a computer screen. The sonographer monitors blood flow through the mesenteric arteries to check for narrowing. During the exam you will be asked to consume an 8oz, high caloric drink such as Ensure, which will be supplied by our office. This will challenge your mesenteric arteries to function properly and therefore you will be tested again at 15 and 30 minute intervals after consumption.

 

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Doppler pressure studies of the lower extremities:

Your doctor may refer to these tests as “ABI, Segmental pressures and waveforms,” or simply “leg doppler.”

The doppler exams are usually painless and can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to perform depending upon your specific needs. There is no prep for this test.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist, called a sonographer. During the exam, you will be asked to undress from the waist down, excluding underwear, and lie on an examination table. The sonographer will apply blood pressure cuffs to both arms and both legs. Your pulse and blood pressure will be taken at these locations with a sophisticated doppler machine to check for narrowing in your leg arteries. Your physician may order exercise with your test, which consists of a treadmill test of walking 2 mph for 3 minutes. If treadmill cannot be performed due to another health condition, an alternate exercise is performed. It is important when scheduling your test to tell the office if you cannot walk a treadmill and why, or if you are in a wheelchair. It is also important to inform the sonographer of any prior leg surgeries.

 

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Arterial ultrasound (leg):

This exam is usually painless and usually takes 30 to 60 minutes to perform. There is no prep for this test.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist, called a sonographer. During the exam, you will be asked to undress from the waist down, excluding underwear, and lie on an examination table. The sonographer will apply a small amount of gel to your legs. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your skin and the instrument used to see your leg arteries, called a transducer. The sonographer will press the transducer onto your legs, which sends images to a computer screen. The sonographer monitors blood flow to check for arterial narrowing or aneurysms. This test will also be performed on leg bypass patients or patients with angioplasties or stents in the legs.

 

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Venous ultrasound:

This exam is usually painless and usually takes 30 to 60 minutes to perform. There is no prep for this test.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist, called a sonographer. During the exam, you will be asked to undress from the waist down, excluding underwear, and lie on an examination table. The sonographer will apply a small amount of gel to your legs. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your skin and the instrument used to see your leg veins, called a transducer. The sonographer will press the transducer onto your legs, which sends images to a computer screen. The sonographer monitors blood flow to check for blood clots, also known as DVT, or venous insufficiency, which can cause varicose veins. It is important to tell the office if you have had prior vein procedures of any kind.

We offer several in-office and surgical procedures for treatment of varicose veins. Please refer to the varicose vein section for further information.

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Gallbladder ultrasound:

This exam is usually painless and takes about 20 minutes to perform. You will be required to fast for 8 hours prior to your exam. You may take necessary medications with small sips of water, but nothing more. If you are not fasting, your test will be rescheduled to a different time.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist, called a sonographer. During the exam, you will be asked to lie on an examination table and a small amount of gel will be applied to your abdomen. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your skin and the instrument used to see your gallbladder, called a transducer. The sonographer will then press the transducer onto your abdomen, which will send images to a computer screen. The sonographer will look at your liver, kidney, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts to look for any abnormalities such as gallstones. It is important to inform your sonographer of any prior abdominal surgeries.

 

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Thyroid ultrasound:

This exam is usually painless and takes about 20 minutes to perform. There is no prep for this test.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist, called a sonographer. During the exam, you will be asked to lie on an examination table and a small amount of gel will be applied to your neck. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your skin and the instrument used to see your thyroid gland, called a transducer. The sonographer will then press the transducer onto your neck, which sends images to a computer screen. The sonographer will look at both sides of your neck and directly over the center of your neck as well to check for any nodules or enlargement of your thyroid gland. It is important to inform your sonographer of any prior neck surgeries.

We perform thyroid biopsies under ultrasound guidance in our office. This will help the doctor accurately locate the nodule or specific location to biopsy.

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Arterial-venous mapping for hemodialyis access placement:

This exam is usually painless and takes 75 minutes to perform. There is no prep for this test.

Your exam will be performed by a highly specialized technologist, called a sonographer. During the exam, you will be asked to undress from the waist up and sit in a chair. The sonographer will apply a small amount of gel to your arms. The gel helps eliminate the formation of air pockets between your skin and the instrument used to see your arteries and veins, called a transducer. The sonographer will then press the transducer onto your arms, which sends images to a computer screen. The sonographer will look at the arteries and veins in both arms to determine size and adequate flow for access placement. It is important to inform your sonographer of any prior dialysis access surgeries.

 

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