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Carotid Artery Ultrasound 
What is Carotid Ultrasound? Carotid ultrasound is a painless and harmless test that uses high-frequency waves to create pictures of the insides of the two large arteries in your neck. It is a totally invasive procedure that causes no discomfort. In addition, carotid ultrasound is a real-time technique that provides a picture of blood flow as it is at the very moment of imaging. Carotid ultrasound shows whether a substance called plaque has narrowed your carotid arteries. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Plaque builds up on the insides of your arteries as you age. This condition is called Carotid Artery Disease (CAD). How common is stroke? Every 45 seconds, someone suffers a stroke in the United States. It is the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. As our population ages, more individuals will be at risk for suffering a stroke. A number of strokes are due to blockages in the vessels that supply blood to the brain. These blood vessels are known as the carotid arteries. For this reason, control of blood pressure and surveillance for carotid artery narrowing is an effective means of preventing a stroke. Why does the carotid artery get blocked? Too much plaque in your carotid artery can cause a stroke. The plaque can slow down or block the flow of blood through the artery, allowing a blood clot to form. A piece of the blood clot can break off and get stuck in your artery, blocking blood flow to the brain. This is what causes a stroke. What tests can be done to screen for carotid artery disease? There are a couple of tests which can screen for disease in the carotid artery and they include an angiogram, MRI or Ultrasound. By far, ultrasound is the most common test to assess the carotid artery. It is a safe, sensitive and inexpensive test. Its sensitivity rivals any of the other tests. A standard carotid ultrasound shows the structure of your carotid arteries. Sometimes carotid ultrasound is used as a preventitive screening test in people who have medical conditions that increase their risk of stroke, including high blood pressure, and diabetes. Who needs Carotid Ultrasound?
How is the test done? After lying down on a bed, the neck area is exposed and a gel is applied on the skin. A small probe is then placed over the neck and the carotid artery is visualized and imaged. The probe also monitors the velocity of blood flow through the carotids artery. The degree of stenosis can be accurately measured with this technique. The process is then repeated on the other side of the neck. Is the test painful? Ultrasound of the carotids is a painless study. It has no discomfort, except for the application of the gel, which needs to be wiped off at the end of the study. Is ultrasound safe? Ultrasound is non invasive, it does not require any sedation and there is no use of dyes or radiation. The study is risk free. What preparation is needed? Generally, no preparation is needed prior to the study. One does not require any sedation and one can eat on the morning of the test. You will be asked to remove any jewelry from around the neck and wear a loose fitting, open necked shirt or blouse. Who performs the tests? These tests are performed by certified technologists. These technologists have credentialing by the national accrediting organization. Who reads the tests? The tests are always read by a radiologist who has extra training in the field of ultrasound. For more information and scheduling:
Thanks to Scan Directory and the US Department of Health and Human Services, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute for this resource information. |
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