Vascular Solutions Ultrasound
Specialist Vascular Sonography
Established in 2009, Vascular Solutions Ultrasound is a fully accredited vascular ultrasound practice providing excellence in non-invasive duplex ultrasound diagnostic imaging. We are a teaching facility and take great pride in supporting our trainees to achieve the very best in vascular ultrasound.
Our team of specialist trained vascular sonographers undergo regular education, training and feedback, ensuring their ability to provide in depth, non-invasive, detailed analysis of vascular pathology supporting accurate diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of disease, which is critical in providing robust patient outcomes.
Led by our Senior Vascular Sonographer, Mr James Maunder (B.Sc. DMU), Western Australian Sonographer of the Year 2019, our team of Specialist Vascular Sonographers provide comprehensive vascular non-invasive duplex ultrasounds for diagnostic and interventional procedural support including:
Carotid, DVT, Upper limb, Lower limb, Aorto-iliac, Renal and Visceral comprehensive ultrasound studies
Functional studies (Ankle Brachial Indices (ABI), Toe Pressures and Exercise Treadmill Studies)
Pre-surgery duplex ultrasound mapping and marking
Post-surgery duplex ultrasound surveillance
Endovenous Laser Ablation procedural ultrasound
Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy
All ultrasounds are overseen and reported by Dr Peter Bray MBBS FRACS (Vascular).
What is a Vascular Duplex Ultrasound Study?
Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images. The sound waves are transmitted through your body from a small handpiece that looks like a microphone (called an ultrasound probe). These waves are reflected and processed by the ultrasound machine to form pictures. Ultrasound has been around for over 60 years and studies have shown that it is a safe technique with no harmful side effects.
Doppler is a way of measuring the speed of flowing blood using reflected sound waves. It is the combination of ultrasound pictures and Doppler flow velocities that we call a Duplex study.
Vascular Duplex is a non-invasive diagnostic investigation used to:
Monitor blood flow to organs and tissues;
Locate and identify blockages or narrowings (stenosis) and characterise them;
Detect blood clots (DVT);
Evaluate the success of open or endovascular procedures like bypasses or stents;
Determine if there is an enlarged artery (aneurysm);
Determine the source and extent of varicose veins.
This information assists the doctor to make accurate diagnoses and plan treatment options.
Depending on the type of examination you are having, you may need to do some preparation before your appointment. Please refer to the patient preparation instructions below.
Locations
Vascular Solutions is an Accredited Specialist Vascular Ultrasound practice providing services to patients at the following locations:
Vascular Solutions (Subiaco): NorthOne Specialist Centre,
Suite 109 / 9 Salvado Road, Subiaco Suite 2 / 3 Sheen Street, Subiaco
(directly opposite SJOG Subiaco Salvado Road entrance)
Vascular Solutions (Albany): Amity Health,
136 Lockyer Avenue, Albany
Fees and Accounts
With the exception of varicose vein studies, we bulk bill all vascular duplex studies if you hold a valid Medicare card and referral from your GP at the time of your appointment. You will be advised of any out of pocket costs at the time of booking.
FAQs
-
No preparation is required with the exception of Abdominal, Renal, Visceral or Exercise studies.
-
If you are having an abdominal or renal ultrasound, please avoid chewing gum, fizzy drinks or sucking lollies for 24 hours prior to your ultrasound to avoid excess production of gas in the bowel, as this obscures the view of your abdominal vessels.
On the day of your scan, please fast for 4 hours prior to your ultrasound examination. You may drink water during this time. If your ultrasound appointment is in the morning, you may have a light early breakfast of tea and toast.Item description
-
No prior preparation is required. However, we recommend that you wear loose, comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for walking. If you feel uncomfortable walking on the treadmill please advise our sonographers who have other means of testing your level of function.
-
The ultrasound examination will be performed by a qualified specialist vascular sonographer who will explain the procedure and ask you to lie on an examination bed or sit upright in a chair. You may be asked to change into an examination gown.
A warmed, clear ultrasound gel is placed on to your skin and the sonographer will perform the examination by gliding the ultrasound probe over the area requiring examination. The should be no discomfort during the examination apart from a little pressure.
For comprehensive venous incompetence studies a Venopulse machine is utilised to accurately augment flow by applying short compressions to the foot or calf. This technique is just one of the reasons our venous incompetence studies are of such high quality.
Depending on the number and complexity of ultrasounds required, your appointment may take between 15 minutes and 90 minutes.
Following completion of the physical scan, our specialist vascular sonographers document the detailed, technical information obtained. This is then given to Dr Bray to interpret the results and document the findings.
The results will be discussed with you directly by Dr Bray at your next scheduled consultation.
-
Due to the length of time it takes to perform and report upon an ultrasound study it is not possible to perform ultrasounds and consultations on the same day with exceptions only possible for very elderly and country patients.
Should you have any queries in relation to your ultrasound examination or preparation, please contact Vascular Solutions Ultrasound on 9287 7444.