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Arterial Exams

Arteries deliver the blood from the heart to the body. An arterial exam often consists of a scan and a series of blood pressure (BP) readings. The scan uses sound waves to check how well the blood flows through the arteries to different parts of the body. Specific exams include:

Arterial Exam, Upper Extremity

  • Looks at the arteries from under your arm to the wrist. Both arms are examined.

Arterial Exam, Upper Extremity with Digits

  • Same as the upper extremity exam but also includes the fingers.

Arterial Exam, Lower Extremity

  • Looks at the arteries anywhere from the groin to the ankle or big toe. Both legs are examined.

Arterial Exam with Exercise

  • Checks the same arteries as the lower extremity exam and includes an exercise segment. Patients are asked to walk on a treadmill for five minutes or less. Exercise and resting blood pressure readings in the ankle are compared. This test is usually not done in patients who are over 80 years of age, have a BP greater than 200 or have had a heart attack, stroke or heart surgery within the last year.

Arterial Duplex, Upper

  • Focuses only on a selected artery or area in the arm(s). A picture of the artery wall is taken.

Arterial Duplex, Lower

  • Looks at only a certain area or artery in the leg. A picture of the artery wall is taken.

Arterial Duplex Graft

  • Examines the blood flow in a post-surgery bypass graft.

All of the exams listed above help to detect a blockage in blood flow, such as a blood clot. If blockages are found, the exam tells us where and how severe the blockages are. Each exam, done in the Vascular Lab, takes about an hour.

Before the Test
There is no special preparation for this test.

Day of the Test

Arriving at the Hospital
On the day of the exam, check in at the Vascular Lab reception desk (Galter Pavilion, 251 E. Huron St., 8th floor) 15 minutes before your test time. Parking is available.

Be sure to bring:

  • Written doctor's order for the test
  • Insurance card
  • Medicare card (Medicare patients only)

For their own safety, children under the age of 16 may not visit the testing area. They may stay in the Waiting Room with a responsible adult.

During the Test

  • With assistance from the technician (tech), you will lie on your back on an exam table.
  • Depending on what pictures are needed, a warm gel will be applied to the skin.
  • Then the tech will move a small hand-held device (transducer) on the skin over the arteries being examined. The transducer transmits sound waves to a monitor, where images can be seen and saved for review.
  • During the test, you may be asked to take deep breaths. You may see the images on the monitor and hear some sounds as the tech records the blood flow.
  • Depending on the area being tested, BP readings may be taken in your arms or legs. The readings will be recorded and compared.
  • For an arterial exam with exercise, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill for five minutes. During exercise patients are connected to a heart monitor.
  • After you walk, the tech will take the blood pressure in your ankles and arms again. If there is an arterial blockage, the blood pressure in you ankle will drop.
  • The tech will take these reading about every minute until the blood pressures return to the pre-exercise level.

After the Test

  • The tech will provide towels to help remove the gel.
  • You will receive test results at the end of the exam.
  • You may resume your normal diet and activities.
  • The vascular surgeon who reads the test will send the results to your referring doctor. Most often, these findings are sent to your doctor within 48 hours. A full report follows in about five business days.

Contact
Vascular Lab
(312) 926-2746

Review Date: 08/04

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