Lower Extremity Venous Ultrasound

Procedure Title: Lower Extremity Venous Ultrasound
Patient Name: __________________________________________

Appointment Time:
When:________________________	Date:__________________________	Time:________________________

Where:		You will report to the Radiology registration area on the 1st floor of Cobb Tower, Oconee Regional Medical Center with your doctor’s order. Please report to registration 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.
Purpose :		This test provides images of the vessels in your lower extremities. This test will show if there is a blockage in a leg vein. The scan is safe and painless; there is no radiation involved.
Preparation:		There is no preparation necessary for this exam. Medications can be taken prior to the exam.
Procedure:		This procedure usually takes approximately 45 minutes. Please note that examination times may vary. You may be asked to change into a gown and provide us with a brief history. You will then lie on the ultrasound table and a water-based gel will be spread from your groin to your ankle. This gel helps to provide us with quality images. A plastic devise called a transducer will be moved up and down along your leg - from the groin to the calf - to view the veins from different angles. The examiner presses the sensor into your skin firmly every few inches to see if the veins change shape under pressure. He or she then checks your other leg in the same way. As the machine measures the blood flowing through a vein, it makes a swishing noise in time with the rhythm of your heartbeat. Most people don't feel any discomfort, but if your leg was swollen and sensitive to the touch before the test, the pressure of the sensor might cause some tenderness.
After Care:		After the test, you may resume all normal activities. The radiologist’s report of the results will be sent to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the results of the test with you. Please call (478) 454-3815 (Ultrasound Department) if you have additional questions.
Reviewed:		01/05/2009 Copyright 2008, Oconee Regional Medical Center 821 N. Cobb Street Milledgeville, GA 31061, (478) 454-3505