The echocardiogram reveals important information about the anatomy of the heart and is especially useful for detecting problems with the heart valves (such as aortic stenosis or mitral valve prolapse). It is also an extremely useful test for evaluating congenital heart disease. The echocardiogram is also a good way to get a general idea of the overall function of the heart muscle.
Carotid doppler ultrasound is a non-invasive test that uses sound waves to measure the flow of blood through the large carotid arteries that supply blood to the brain. These arteries can become narrowed due to arteriosclerosis or other causes, and this can lead to transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) or cerebrovascular accident (stroke). The carotid doppler test can help doctors determine stroke risk and the need for preventive measures.
Duplex ultrasound examinations The test combines traditional ultrasound with Doppler ultrasonography. Regular ultrasound uses sound waves that bounce off blood vessels to create pictures. Doppler ultrasound records sound waves reflecting off moving objects, such as blood, to measure their speed and other aspects of how they flow.
There are different types of duplex ultrasound exams. Some include:
Arterial and venous duplex ultrasound of the abdomen examines blood vessels and blood flow in the abdominal area.
Carotid duplex ultrasound looks at the carotid artery in the neck.
Duplex ultrasound of the extremities looks at the arms or legs.
A computer measures how the sound waves reflect back, and changes the sound waves into pictures. The Doppler creates a "swishing" sound, which is the sound of your blood moving through the arteries and veins.
Sometimes during a duplex ultrasound study of the legs, the health care provider may calculate an ankle-brachial (ABI) index. You will need to wear blood pressure cuffs on your arms and legs for this test.
On August 12, 2005, Carlton Cardiology Associates, Inc. was granted accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL), and we were recently reaccredited in July 31 of 2017. Carlton Cardiology's laboratory is one of the first one thousand echocardiography laboratories in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be so recognized for its commitment to high quality patient care and its provision of quality diagnostic testing.
ICAEL is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring high quality patient care and to promoting health care. Participation in the accreditation is voluntary. Accreditation status signifies that Carlton Cardiology has been reviewed by an independent agency which recognizes our commitment to quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disease.
Carlton Cardiology Associates, Inc. has been awarded accreditation by the American College of Radiology for Vascular Ultrasound services.
The ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR's Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.
Click here to access the web page "See My Heart" containing information from the American Society of Echocardiography regarding ultrasound examination of the heart:
