Guidelines for noninvasive vascular laboratory testing: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography and the Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology

Abstract

Accompanying the rapid growth of interest in percutaneous vascular interventions, there has been increasing interest among cardiologists in performing noninvasive vascular testing using ultrasound. In an attempt to provide recommendations on the best practices in vascular laboratory testing, this report has been prepared by a writing group from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) and the Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology. The document summarizes principles integral to vascular duplex ultrasoundincluding color Doppler, spectral Doppler waveform analysis, power Doppler, and the use of contrast. Appropriate indications and interpretation of carotid artery, renal artery, abdominal aorta, and peripheral artery ultrasound imaging are described. A dedicated section summarizes noninvasive techniques for physiologic vascular testing of the lower extremity arteriesincluding measurement of segmental pressures and pulse volume plethysmography. The use of exercise testing in the evaluation of peripheral artery disease, ultrasound evaluation of the lower extremities after percutaneous revascularization, and the diagnosis and management of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm (PSA) is also discussed. A section on the important topic of vascular laboratory accreditation is included. Finally, additional details regarding proper technique for performance of the various vascular tests and procedures are included in the Appendix.

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“…Each patient underwent a complete Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of both common carotid arteries according to the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines (16). The echocardiographic evaluations were performed with an M3S transducer in a VIVID 7 (GE, USA) equipment following standard techniques.…”

Sodium nitrite in patients with peripheral artery disease and diabetes mellitus: Safety, walking distance and endothelial function

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Distinct Prognostic Factors in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease

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