Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory

The Prima CARE, P.C. Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory is a specialized diagnostic facility that is part of our Center for Vascular Disease. It is a fully accredited laboratory by Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) committed to providing a high level of patient care and quality testing for the diagnosis of peripheral vascular diseases using state-of-the-art ultrasound and physiological testing equipment performed by registered vascular technologists with the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

Vascular ultrasound scanning is utilized in the detection of abnormalities within the cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular circulatory systems. These problems are more commonly caused by atherosclerosis, which occur when fatty and other substances, known as plaque, build up in the arteries, and thrombosis or blood clot, and aneurysm, which are an abnormal bulge or enlargement in the wall of an artery, and leaking valves in veins. An ultrasound examination is painless and does not use radiation as x-ray tests do, and there are injections required. A water-soluble gel is applied to the skin surface over the area being examined. A wand like device called a transducer is then gently applied against the skin using reflective sound waves to offer information regarding the anatomy and morphology of organs and blood vessels, but most importantly offers the capability to evaluate the dynamics of blood flow and the pathophysiology of vascular disease.

Services offered include (click links for a description):

• Aortic-Iliac Duplex Ultrasound Scanning
• Carotid Artery Duplex Ultrasound Scanning
• Lower and Upper Extremity Arterial Testing
• Venous Duplex Ultrasound Scanning
• Renal Artery Duplex Ultrasound Scanning
• Mesenteric Duplex Ultrasound Scanning
• Hemodialysis Access Duplex Ultrasound Scanning
• Arterial bypass/stint Placement Ultrasound Surveillance
• Vein Mapping (prep for arterial reconstruction, coronary artery bypass, hemodialysis access work up)

Prima CARE, P.C.
Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory
Center for Vascular Disease
901 South Main Street
Fall River, MA 02724

Phone: 508-673-4329
Fax: 508-679-6669

Click here for office directions.

Physician orders are required for all tests performed.
All major insurances accepted.

Aortic-Iliac Duplex Ultrasound Scanning

The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdomen that branches the iliac arteries in the lower abdomen that courses along the pelvis. The aorta also has branches that supply blood flow to major organs in the body. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (bulge or enlargement of a weakened area in the artery) affect over 2.3 million Americans, but rarely product symptoms until they rupture. If the aneurysm should rupture there is a 90% mortality rate making aneurysms the 13 th cause of death in this country. In addition, blockages in the aorta and iliac arteries may leave a patient with pain in the hip, buttocks or thigh muscles during exercise. An ultrasound study can detect these abnormalities.
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Lower and Upper Extremity Arterial Testing

Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) referred to as hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. This narrowing of the blood vessels in the legs is caused by a build-up of plaque in the arteries. Patients with PAD have a much higher incidence for heart attack and stroke. PAD symptoms include:

• Tight aching or squeezing pain in the hips, buttocks, thighs or calf muscle when walking referred to as claudication. This is the most common symptom for PAD.
• Infection or sores that do not heal or heal slowly.
• Skin color changes (bluish, reddish or pale appearing).
• Skin temperature (coolness or cold).
• Numbness or tingling sensations in the lower leg, foot or toes.

Testing with ultrasound blood pressure measurements of legs and hand held Doppler probes can be performed to identify the presence of narrowing in the arteries, location and the severity.
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Venous Duplex Ultrasound Scanning

Vascular diseases affecting the veins is more common and symptoms such as pain, selling, warmth and redness (inflammation) of the skin and visible varicose veins.

• Varicose veins are caused by increased blood pressure inside the superficial (close to the skin surface) vein due to the presence of weakened or damaged one-way valves in the veins.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a clot in the vein deep in the leg. DVT can produce symptoms of swelling and pain. In the event that a clot breaks away and travels through the blood stream and causes blockage of blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) in the lung, which is referred to a pulmonary embolism. This can lead to severe difficulty and even death, depending on the degree of blockage.
• In the United States, about 2 million people per year develop DVT. Most of them are aged 40 years or older. Statistics reveal that at least 200,000 patients die each year from blood clots in their lungs.
• Venous duplex ultrasound can be performed to detect DVT, superficial vein thrombosis and damaged or leaking valves within the venous system.

Renal Artery Duplex Ultrasound Scanning

A build up of plaque in the renal arteries (blood vessels supplying flow to the kidneys) can cause narrowing that restricts blood flow to the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure or could be the reason. For patients with hypertension (high blood pressure). Renal artery ultrasound can be performed to detect narrowing in the renal arteries, assess the blood flow in the kidney and evaluate the kidney organ itself.
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