978-463-1135

Anna Jaques Hospital's non-invasive vascular lab provides diagnostic services for vascular disease that encompasses the veins and arteries through-out the body. Vascular disease is a potentially life-threatening condition where the arteries and/or veins become blocked causing a lack of blood flow and a variety of resulting complications. Like many medical conditions, early diagnosis and treatment may prevent more serious conditions, and in the case of vascular disease, that could mean heart attacks and strokes. We are pleased to announce that our lab, staffed by a certified technologist, is available to perform these examinations as prescribed by your health care provider.

The Non-Invasive Vascular Lab at Anna Jaques Hospital provides the following diagnostic examinations, many of which are done with the use of ultrasound. A transducer, a hand-held device that directs high-frequency sound waves to the arteries being tested, is rubbed over the skin and a picture of the veins and/or arteries are visualized on a TV monitor. Gel is applied to help the transducer transmit the sound. These procedure are painless, involve no risk, and no preparation is necessary.

Carotid Duplex
This procedure uses ultrasound to look for plaques, blood clots or other problems with blood flow in the walls and insides of the carotid artery (located in the neck) which supplies blood to the brain. The test assesses blood flow and is used to detect stenosis (narrowing and hardening), thrombosis (clotting), and other causes of obstruction in the carotid arteries.

Venous Reflux
Venous reflux is when the blood flows the wrong way in the veins, back down toward the foot instead of toward the heart. Valves within the veins are supposed to prevent this from occurring, but these valves may not function correctly. Reflux leads to bulging and stretching of the vein walls, which may cause the aching and throbbing associated with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. Venous reflux can occur with coughing or straining, but most significantly occurs when the patient is standing. Duplex Ultrasound, the most sophisticated non-invasive method, gives an image of the vein in question, and can "measure" reflux.

Dialysis Access Duplex
This procedure evaluates whether the artery/vein, which is to be used for dialysis treatment, is open or clogged.

Arterial Duplex
Arteries that feed the arms and legs with blood are evaluated by ultrasound before and after interventions (stents, angioplasties, grafts). Color on the ultrasound monitor is used to map the arteries to identify narrowing of the vessels that may be causing leg pain, skin discoloration or ulcers in the foot, ankle, heel or toe.

Arterial Pressures and Waveforms
Through blood pressure cuffs and ultrasound, the arteries that supply the arms and legs with blood are evaluated. This test is used to locate any areas of blockage within the arteries.

Abdominal Vascular Duplex
The blood vessels that bring blood to and away from the abdominal organs are evaluated with ultrasound, especially the kidney arteries. Follow-up duplex exams are also provided for interventions such as renal artery stents and angioplasty of arteries to see if they are open and not clogged.

Additionally, follow-up care to vascular procedures such as angioplasty, stent placement and graft insertion in the arm or leg arteries that keep the arteries open is also provided.

For more information on the services available at the Non-invasive Vascular Lab at Anna Jaques Hospital, please contact your health care provider, or the Lab at 978-463-1135.