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Carotid duplex How the Test is Performed:
The test is done in the peripheral vascular lab or radiology department of the hospital. You are placed on your back and your head will be supported to prevent movement. A water-soluble gel is placed on the skin where the transducer probe (a hand-held device that directs the high-frequency sound waves to the arteries being tested) is to be placed to help transmit the sound to the skin surface. The ultrasound is turned on and images of the carotid artery and pulse wave forms are obtained.
How to Prepare:
Adults:
No special preparation is necessary.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How it Feels:
The test is noninvasive and painless.
Risks:
There are no risks.
Why this Test is Performed:
The test assesses blood flow and is used to detect stenotic ("hardening"), thrombotic ("clots"), and occlusive diseases (in which the arteries are closed).
Normal Values:
The artery is free of any obstructions, stenosis, or thrombosis, and there is no flow abnormality. There is no turbulence or disruption in the arterial blood flow.
Abnormal Results:
There is a disturbance of the blood flow in the artery related to stenotic, obstructive, or thrombotic diseases.
Cost:
The cost includes the technical and the professional charges: the professional charge is about $100 to $115 and the technical charge is about $250.
Special Considerations:
Not applicable.
A carotid arteriogram is an X-ray study designed to determine if there is narrowing or other abnormality in the carotid artery, a main artery to the brain. This is an angiogram of the left common carotid artery (both front-to-back and side views) showing a severe narrowing (stenosis) of the internal carotid artery just beyond the division of the common carotid artery into the internal and external branches .
This is an angiogram of the right carotid artery showing a severe narrowing (stenosis) of the internal carotid artery just past the carotid fork. There is enlargement of the vein or ulceration in the area after the stenosis in this close-up film. Note the narrowed segment toward the bottom of the picture.
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