Lower Extremity Arterial & Venous Testing
If you are suspected of having lower extremity arterial disease such as
atherosclerosis, one or more tests may be used including:
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Pulse Examination: This is the primary assessment of the circulation.
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Arterial Blood Pressures: Using an ultrasound stethoscope (Doppler), the blood pressure in your
arms and legs is measured, then compared. This test gives the vascular
surgeon a general assessment of the severity of the lower extremity arterial disease.
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Duplex Scanning: This test is useful for detecting blockages in an artery and measuring
the size of the artery. It may also be used to measure the size of a vein
that may be used as a bypass, a means of re-routing blood flow around
a blocked or occluded area.
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Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA): This test is also useful for imaging extremity vessels.
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Angiogram: Tests in this category involve the injection of a contrast dye directly
into your arteries under X-ray guidance.