AORTIC ANEURYSM

An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of your aorta, the main artery from your heart. Aortic aneurysms form in a weak area in your artery wall. They may rupture (burst) or split (dissect), which can cause life-threatening internal bleeding or block the flow of blood from your heart to various organs.

What is an aortic aneurysm?

Your aorta is the largest artery in your body. It carries blood and oxygen from your heart to other parts of your body. It’s shaped like a curved candy cane. Your ascending aorta leads up from your heart. Your descending aorta travels back down into your abdomen (belly).

An aneurysm can develop in any artery. An aortic aneurysm develops when there’s a weakness in the wall of your aorta. The pressure of blood pumping through the artery causes a balloon-like bulge in the weak area of your aorta. This bulge is called an aortic aneurysm.

What are the different types?

There are two different types of aortic aneurysms. They affect different parts of your body:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): An abdominal aortic aneurysm develops in the “handle” of your aorta that points down.
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA): A thoracic aortic aneurysm (heart aneurysm) occurs in the section that’s shaped like an upside-down U at the top of your aorta. In people with Marfan syndrome (a connective tissue disorder), a TAA may occur in the ascending aorta.

How common are they?

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are 4 to 6 times more common in men and people assigned male at birth than women and people assigned female at birth. They affect only about 1% of men aged 55 to 64. They become more common with every decade of age. The likelihood increases by up to 4% every 10 years of life.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur more frequently than thoracic aortic aneurysms. This may be because the wall of your thoracic aorta is thicker and stronger than the wall of your abdominal aorta.

What are the risk factors for aortic aneurysm?

Both your family history and your lifestyle can play a role in your risk of developing an aortic aneurysm. Aortic aneurysms occur most often in people who:

  • Smoke.
  • Are over age 65.
  • Were assigned male at birth.
  • Have a family history of aortic aneurysms.
  • Have high blood pressure (hypertension).

What causes aortic aneurysm?

The causes of an aortic aneurysm are often unknown, but can include:

What are the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm?

In many cases, people don’t know they have an aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm often doesn’t cause any symptoms until it ruptures (bursts).

If an aneurysm ruptures, it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Call 911 if you or someone you are with has a ruptured aneurysm.

Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm come on suddenly and can include:

Finding an aortic aneurysm before it ruptures offers your best chance of recovery. As an aortic aneurysm grows, you might notice symptoms including:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
  • Feeling full even after a small meal.
  • Pain wherever the aneurysm is growing (could be in your neck, back, chest or abdomen).
  • Painful or difficult swallowing.
  • Swelling of your arms, neck or face.

What are the complications of an aortic aneurysm?

If an aortic aneurysm ruptures, it causes internal bleeding. Depending on the location of the aneurysm, a rupture can be very dangerous — even life-threatening. With immediate treatment, many people can recover from a ruptured aneurysm.

A growing aortic aneurysm can also lead to a tear (aortic dissection) in your artery wall. A dissection allows blood to leak in between the walls of your artery. This causes a narrowing of your artery. The narrowed artery reduces or blocks blood flow from your heart to other areas. The pressure of blood building up in your artery walls can also cause the aneurysm to rupture.

How is aortic aneurysm diagnosed?

Many aneurysms develop without causing symptoms. Providers often discover these aneurysms during a routine checkup or screening.

If you’re at high risk of developing an aortic aneurysm — or have any aneurysm symptoms — your provider will do imaging tests. Imaging tests that can find and help diagnose an aortic aneurysm include:

How is an unruptured aortic aneurysm treated?

If you have an unruptured aortic aneurysm, your provider will monitor your condition closely. If you have risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm, your provider may also recommend regular screenings.

Treatment aims to prevent the aneurysm from growing large enough to tear the artery or burst. For smaller, unruptured aneurysms, your provider may prescribe medications to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure or manage cholesterol. All can help slow aneurysm growth and reduce pressure on the artery wall.

What are the types of aortic aneurysm surgery?

Large aneurysms at risk of dissecting or rupturing may require surgery. Your provider might use one of these types of surgical procedures to treat an aortic aneurysm:

  • Open aneurysm repair: Your provider removes the aneurysm and sews a graft (a section of specialized tubing) in place to repair the artery. Open aneurysm repair surgery may also be necessary if an aneurysm bursts.
  • Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR): Endovascular surgery is a minimally invasive procedure to fix aortic aneurysms. During the procedure, your provider uses a catheter (thin tube) to insert a graft to reinforce or repair the artery. This procedure is also called thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) or fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR).

What can I expect after aortic aneurysm surgery?

Recovery after aneurysm surgery takes a month or longer. Your provider will continue to monitor you for changes to the aneurysm, growth or complications. Most people have positive outcomes after surgery.

All surgery has risks. Possible complications after surgery include:

  • Leaking blood around the graft (called endoleak).
  • Movement of the graft away from where it was placed.
  • Formation of blood clots.
  • Infection.

Can I prevent an aortic aneurysm?

Having high blood pressure, high cholesterol or using tobacco products increases your risk of developing an aortic aneurysm. You can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes:

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with an aortic aneurysm?

With careful monitoring and treatment, your provider can help you manage an aortic aneurysm. Ideally, your healthcare team can identify and care for an aortic aneurysm before it ruptures.

If an aortic aneurysm ruptures, seek medical care immediately. Without prompt treatment, a ruptured aortic aneurysm can be fatal. Both open and endovascular surgery can successfully treat a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Loss of consciousness (syncope, fainting or passing out).
  • Low blood pressure.
  • Rapid heart rate.
  • Sudden, severe pain in your chest, abdomen or back.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Am I at risk of developing an aortic aneurysm?
  • How will I know if I have an aortic aneurysm?
  • What steps can I take to prevent an aortic aneurysm from dissecting or rupturing?
  • What lifestyle changes will help reduce my risk of an aortic aneurysm?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Taking steps to improve your heart health can help prevent aortic aneurysms from developing or getting worse. Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes you can make. If you’re at risk for an aortic aneurysm, be sure to get regular screenings. Finding and treating an aneurysm early greatly reduces the risk of rupture or other complications.

VASCULAR DISEASE

Vascular disease (vasculopathy) affects the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and remove waste from your tissues. Common vascular problems happen because plaque (made of fat and cholesterol) slows down or blocks blood flow inside your arteries or veins. Lifestyle changes often help, but some people need medication or surgery.

What is vascular disease?

Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system, or system of blood vessels. This ranges from diseases of your arteries, veins and lymph vessels to blood disorders that affect circulation.

Blood vessels are elastic-like tubes that carry blood to every part of your body. Blood vessels include:

  • Arteries that carry blood away from your heart.
  • Veins that return blood back to your heart.
  • Capillaries, your tiniest blood vessels, which link your small veins and arteries, deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and take away their waste.

Types of Vascular Disease

Some vascular diseases affect your arteries, while others occur in your veins. They can also happen only in specific parts of your body.

Peripheral artery disease

Like the blood vessels of your heart (coronary arteries), your peripheral arteries (blood vessels outside your heart) also may develop atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque (fat and cholesterol deposits), inside them. Over time, the buildup narrows the artery. Eventually, the narrowed artery causes less blood to flow, which may lead to ischemia, or inadequate blood flow to your body’s tissue. Types of peripheral arterial disease include:

  • Peripheral artery disease: A blockage in your legs. Total loss of circulation can lead to gangrene and loss of a limb.
  • Intestinal ischemic syndrome: A blockage in the blood vessels leading to your gastrointestinal system.
  • Renal artery disease: A blockage in your renal arteries can cause renal artery disease and kidney failure.
  • Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome: A rare vascular disease that affects the legs of some young athletes. The muscle and tendons near the knee compress the popliteal artery, restricting blood flow to the lower leg and possibly damaging the artery.
  • Raynaud’s Phenomenon: Consists of spasms of the small arteries of your fingers, and sometimes toes, from exposure to cold or stress.
  • Buerger’s Disease: Most commonly affects the small and medium-sized arteries, veins and nerves. Although the cause is unknown, there is a strong association with tobacco use or exposure. The arteries of your arms and legs become narrowed or blocked, causing lack of blood supply (ischemia) to your fingers, hands, toes and feet. With severe blockages, the tissue may die (gangrene), making it necessary to amputate affected fingers and toes. Superficial vein inflammation and symptoms of Raynaud’s can occur as well.

Carotid artery issues

These happen in the two main carotid arteries in your neck.

  • Carotid artery disease: A blockage or narrowing in the arteries supplying your brain. This can lead to a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke.
  • Carotid artery dissection: Begins as a tear in one layer of your artery wall. Blood leaks through this tear and spreads between the wall layers.
  • Carotid body tumors: Growths within the nervous tissue around your carotid artery.
  • Carotid artery aneurysm: A bulge in your artery wall that weakens the wall and may cause a rupture.

Venous disease

Veins are flexible, hollow tubes with flaps inside, called valves. When your muscles contract, these one-way valves open, and blood moves through your veins. When your muscles relax, the valves close, keeping blood flowing in one direction through your veins.

If the valves inside your veins become damaged, the valves may not close completely. This allows blood to flow in both directions. When your muscles relax, the valves inside the damaged vein(s) will not be able to hold the blood. This can cause pooling of blood or swelling in your veins. The veins bulge and look like ropes under the skin. The blood begins to move more slowly through your veins and may stick to the sides of your vessel walls. Symptoms include heaviness, aching, swelling, throbbing or itching. Blood clots can form.

  • Varicose veins: Bulging, swollen, purple, ropy veins, seen just under your skin. Damaged valves within the veins cause this.
  • Spider veins: Small red or purple bursts on your knees, calves, or thighs. Swollen capillaries (small blood vessels) cause this.
  • Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS): A rare congenital (present at birth) vascular disorder.
  • May-Thurner syndrome (MTS): Your right iliac artery compresses your left iliac vein, which increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in your left extremity.
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS): A group of disorders that happen with compression, injury or irritation of the nerves and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins) in your lower neck, armpit and upper chest area.
  • Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI): A condition that happens when the venous wall and/or valves in your leg veins are not working effectively, making it difficult for blood to return to your heart from your legs.

Blood clots

A clot forms when clotting factors in your blood make it coagulate or become a solid, jelly-like mass. When a blood clot forms inside a blood vessel (a thrombus), it can come loose and travel through your bloodstream, causing a deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke.

Blood clots in your arteries can increase the risk for stroke, heart attack, severe leg pain, difficulty walking or even the loss of a limb.

  • Hypercoagulable states or blood clotting disorders: Conditions that put people at increased risk for developing blood clots because they make blood more likely to form blood clots (hypercoagulable) in the arteries and veins. You can inherit these conditions (congenital, occurring at birth) or acquire them. These disorders include high levels of factors in your blood that cause blood to clot (fibrinogen, factor 8, prothrombin) or not enough natural anticoagulant (blood-thinning) proteins (antithrombin, protein C, protein S). The most aggressive disorders include circulating antiphospholipid antibodies, which can cause clots in both arteries and veins.
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): A blood clot occurring in a deep vein.
  • Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot that breaks loose from a vein and travels to your lungs.
  • Axillo-subclavian vein thrombosis, also called Paget-Schroetter Syndrome: Most common vascular condition to affect young, competitive athletes. The condition develops when your collarbone (clavicle), first rib or the surrounding muscle compresses a vein in your armpit (axilla) or in front of your shoulder (the subclavian vein). This increases your risk of blood clots.
  • Superficial thrombophlebitis: A blood clot in a vein just under your skin.

Aortic aneurysm

An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms can form in any blood vessel, but they occur most commonly in the aorta (aortic aneurysm) which is the main blood vessel leaving the heart:

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD)

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD): A rare medical condition in which people have abnormal cellular growth in the walls of their medium and large arteries. This can cause the arteries with abnormal growth to look beaded and become narrow. This can cause issues with the arteries, including aneurysms and dissection.

Lymphedema

The lymphatic system includes an extensive network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes that helps coordinate your immune system’s function to protect your body from foreign substances. Lymphedema, an abnormal buildup of fluid, develops when lymph vessels or lymph nodes are missing, impaired, damaged or removed.

  • Primary lymphedema (rare): Some people are born without certain lymph vessels or have abnormalities in them.
  • Secondary lymphedema: Happens as a result of a blockage or interruption that alters the lymphatic system. Causes of this include: infection, malignancy, surgery, scar tissue formation, trauma, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), radiation or other cancer treatment.

Vasculitis

Your blood vessels can get inflamed because of a medicine, an infection or an unknown cause. This can make it hard for blood to travel through your blood vessels. This is sometimes associated with rheumatological conditions or connective tissue disease. Vasculitis can also cause an aneurysm.

Who does vasculopathy affect?

Some people are born with vascular diseases they inherit from their parents. In these cases, such as blood clotting disorders, they start dealing with this issue at a younger age. However, many vascular diseases develop over time because of an accumulation of plaque (fat and cholesterol) in the arteries, such as peripheral artery disease or carotid artery disease. Atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries, can start when you’re a teen and cause problems in middle age or later.

How common is vascular disease?

Vascular diseases are very common in America, partly because so many people weigh too much and have diabetes. The most common vascular diseases include peripheral artery disease (PAD) and carotid artery disease.

What are the vascular disease symptoms?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of vascular disease.

Peripheral artery disease symptoms

  • Peripheral artery disease: Leg pain or cramps with activity but improve with rest; changes in skin color; sores or ulcers and tired legs.
  • Intestinal ischemic (or mesenteric ischemia) syndrome: Severe stomach pain, nausea, throwing up, diarrhea, food fear and weight loss.
  • Renal artery disease: Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure and abnormal kidney function.
  • Popliteal entrapment syndrome: Leg and foot cramps, numbness, tingling, discoloration.
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon: Fingers and toes that look red, blue or white, throbbing, tingling, redness.
  • Buerger’s disease: Pain in your arms, hands, legs and feet, even at rest. Blue or pale fingers or toes.

Symptoms of carotid artery issues

  • Carotid artery disease: Usually no symptoms until having a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke). Symptoms of these include trouble with vision or speech, confusion and difficulty with memory.
  • Carotid artery dissection: Headache, neck pain and eye or facial pain.
  • Carotid body tumors: Palpitations, high blood pressure, sweating and headaches.
  • Carotid artery aneurysm: Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke).

Venous disease symptoms

  • Varicose veins and spider veins: Swelling, pain, blue or red veins visible on legs.
  • Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS): Pain or heaviness in your leg or arm.
  • May-Thurner syndrome (MTS): Swelling, tenderness, pain in your leg, red or discolored skin.
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS): Neck, arm and shoulder pain, tingling and numbness in your arm or hand.
  • Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI): Leg cramps, heavy or achy legs, swelling or pain in your legs.

Blood clots

  • Blood clotting disorders: Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism.
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Pain, swelling, warmth in your leg, red skin.
  • Pulmonary embolism: Coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath.
  • Axillo-subclavian vein thrombosis: Swelling, heaviness or pain in your arm or hand, skin that looks blue.
  • Superficial thrombophlebitis: Inflammation, pain, warmth around your vein, red skin.

Aortic aneurysm symptoms

  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm: Chest pain, fast heart rate, trouble swallowing, swollen neck.
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Abdominal or back pain, dizziness, nausea and throwing up, fast heart rate (if the aneurysm ruptures).

Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) symptoms

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD): Neck pain, vision changes, high blood pressure, dizziness, hearing a “whooshing sensation” or hearing your heartbeat in your ears.

Lymphedema symptoms

Swelling, most often in your arms or legs.

Vasculitis symptoms

Not feeling well, fever, swelling.

What causes vascular disease?

For some vascular problems, the cause isn’t known. Vascular disease causes include:

How is vascular disease diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will want to do a physical exam and get your medical history, as well as a history of which diseases are in your family. It helps your healthcare provider look for vascular disease when you take your shoes and socks off before they examine you.

Depending on the type of vascular disease your provider suspects, they may do blood tests and imaging.

What tests will be done to diagnose vasculopathy?

Many vascular diseases involve clots or blockages in blood vessels. To diagnose these, your healthcare provider needs to be able to see inside your blood vessels using imaging methods that include:

How is vascular disease treated?

Eating healthier and exercising more can help with many vascular diseases. For others, you may need to take medicine or have a surgical procedure. Vascular disease treatments vary depending on the condition.

Peripheral artery disease treatment

  • Peripheral artery disease: Diet, exercise, medicine, surgery.
  • Intestinal ischemic syndrome: Pain medicine, clot-busting drugs, surgical removal of blood clot. Angioplasty, stenting or bypass surgery for chronic cases.
  • Renal artery disease: Low-salt, heart-healthy diet. High blood pressure medicine, statins.
  • Popliteal entrapment syndrome: Surgery to release the popliteal artery.
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon: Keep hands and feet warm. Take medicine that helps blood vessels stay open (dilated).
  • Buerger’s disease: Quit tobacco products. Warm up fingers and toes. Take medicine (vasodilators) to open blood vessels.

Treatment of carotid artery issues

  • Carotid artery disease: Healthier diet. Blood thinners and cholesterol-lowering medicine. Plaque removal (carotid endarterectomy). Angioplasty and stenting to keep the artery open.
  • Carotid artery dissection: Antiplatelets, anticoagulants, stenting.
  • Carotid body tumors: Surgical removal of the tumor.
  • Carotid artery aneurysm: Antihypertensives, cholesterol-lowering medicine, clot-busting medicine. Bypass or stent-graft surgery.

Venous disease treatment

  • Varicose veins and spider veins: Removal using heat, saltwater or laser therapy.
  • Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS): Same treatment as varicose veins.
  • May-Thurner syndrome (MTS): Same as for deep vein thrombosis.
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS): Physical therapy, medicine.
  • Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI): Move legs frequently and wear compression stockings. Vein treatment with saltwater, laser or removal through an incision.

Blood clot treatment

  • Blood clotting disorders: Same as for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Elevate your legs. Take blood thinners and medicines for pain.
  • Pulmonary embolism: Blood thinners and thrombolytics. Procedure to remove the clot.
  • Axillo-subclavian vein thrombosis: Thrombolytics, blood thinners. Removal of the clot.
  • Superficial thrombophlebitis: Raise your affected limb above your heart. Use a warm compress. Put on support stockings. Have the vein surgically removed.

Aortic aneurysm treatment

  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm: Surgery to put in a fabric graft or a stent. This can be a major surgery depending on the location and surgical method.
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Surgery to put in a graft. An endovascular repair is less invasive.

Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD)

  • Blood thinners, medicine for pain.
  • Angioplasty. Surgery to prevent an artery rupture.

Lymphedema

  • Let your arm rest above your heart level while you lie down for 45 minutes twice daily.
  • Wear a compression sleeve.
  • Use your affected limb for daily tasks.
  • Visit a specialized lymphedema clinic if your healthcare provider recommends it.

Vasculitis

  • Your provider may prescribe medications like steroids.

Complications/side effects of the treatment

Any medicine can have side effects, but the benefits of medicines usually make them worth taking. Side effects often go away. If they don’t, you can ask your healthcare provider to switch you to a different drug.

When considering a procedure or surgery, talk to your provider about the risks and benefits. What’s right for your neighbor may not be the right treatment for you.

How can I reduce my risk of vascular disease?

You can’t do anything about your age, family history or genetics, but you can:

  • Manage your diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Eat healthier foods.
  • Move around once an hour if you have to sit or stand for hours.
  • Stay at a healthy weight.
  • Reduce your stress level.
  • Avoid tobacco products.

What can I expect if I have vasculopathy?

Vascular disease can be a lifelong problem. Once your healthcare provider knows you have plaque accumulations in your blood vessels, they’ll want you to make some changes to how you live. These changes, such as exercising, not using tobacco products and choosing healthier foods, are things you’ll need to keep doing for years to come. You may also need to take medicines to decrease your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Outlook for this condition

The outlook for many vascular conditions is good if your healthcare provider catches the problem early. Many vascular issues get harder to treat as they get worse. Some vascular conditions, such as carotid artery dissection, abdominal aortic aneurysm and pulmonary embolism, can be life-threatening.

How do I take care of myself?

In addition to the things mentioned above, you’ll also want to keep taking medicines your healthcare provider prescribes and keep going to your regular checkups.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Contact your provider if anything changes with your vascular issue or if you have a problem with the medication they prescribed.

When should I go to the ER?

Call 911 if you have:

  • Confusion or dizziness.
  • Slurred speech.
  • A droop on one side of your face.
  • Severe chest pain.
  • Severe abdominal pain.
  • Loss of vision.
  • Weakness in an arm or leg.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

  • What’s the best treatment for my specific situation?
  • Is there anything else I should be doing to take care of my vascular condition?
  • Are there related conditions I should watch for with this vascular issue?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

With vascular disease, the best thing you can do is stay vigilant. Don’t skip any medical checkups or medicine doses. Because some vascular issues run in families, sharing health information with your family can help them prevent and be on the lookout for vascular disease. Encourage your family to get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked since high levels put them at risk for vascular diseases.

PELVIC ULTRASOUND

A pelvic ultrasound creates pictures of the organs inside your pelvis — the area between your belly and legs. The test can help a healthcare provider diagnose problems like tumors or cysts. A pelvic ultrasound is done externally (outside the body) or internally (inside the body).

What is a pelvic ultrasound?

An ultrasound is an imaging exam that uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of organs inside your body. The pictures are called sonograms. An ultrasound is a safe, fairly quick procedure that’s available at most imaging centers and some doctors’ offices.

A pelvic ultrasound looks at the organs in your pelvic area between your abdomen (belly) and legs. It may also look at your lower abdomen. The pelvic organs include:

  • Bladder, which holds urine.
  • Fallopian tubes, which carry eggs between the ovaries and uterus.
  • Ovaries, organs that make and store eggs.
  • Prostate, a gland that helps with reproduction in men.
  • Rectum, the lower part of your intestines.
  • Uterus.
  • Vagina, the canal to the uterus.

Are there different types of pelvic ultrasounds?

There are different types of pelvic ultrasounds. Each looks at different organs or serves a particular purpose:

  • Abdominal ultrasound, which examines organs from outside the belly.
  • Pregnancy ultrasound, which watches fetal development in the uterus.
  • Rectal ultrasound, which examines the inside of the rectum. A special exam called a transrectal ultrasound looks at the prostate.
  • Transvaginal ultrasound, which examines the reproductive organs from inside the vagina.

When would a healthcare provider recommend a pelvic ultrasound?

A healthcare provider may recommend a pelvic ultrasound if you have:

What conditions can a pelvic ultrasound diagnose?

A pelvic ultrasound can help diagnose a range of conditions:

All people:

In people assigned female at birth:

In people assigned male at birth:

  • Infections or cysts in seminal vesicles (glands that help produce semen).
  • Prostate cancer.
  • Testicular cancer.
  • Testicular or scrotal infection.
  • Scrotal or penile injury.

Are there other uses for a pelvic ultrasound?

A healthcare provider may use a pelvic ultrasound to perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure to collect a small sample of tissue from inside your body. The ultrasound can help guide the biopsy needle to the right location.

Another use for a pelvic ultrasound is to check the positioning of an intrauterine device (IUD). An IUD is a device placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Who performs a pelvic ultrasound?

A healthcare provider who specializes in ultrasounds usually performs a pelvic ultrasound. The medical field calls these providers sonographers. In some cases, your doctor may do the exam.

How does a pelvic scan create images?

During a pelvic ultrasound, a sonographer uses a special tool called a transducer. This small, wand-like instrument gives off sound waves. The transducer connects to a computer and a screen. As your healthcare provider moves the transducer, the sound waves bounce off certain types of tissue. They then return to the transducer as echoes. The computer translates the echoes into images, which appear on the screen.

Sonograms are pictures in real time, meaning they show your organs’ movements as they happen. Sonograms also show blood flowing through blood vessels.

How should I prepare for a pelvic ultrasound?

Your healthcare provider may ask you to drink plenty of water before an abdominal pelvic ultrasound. A full bladder helps the transducer’s sound waves travel, creating a clearer picture of your bladder. You usually don’t need to do this for a rectal or transvaginal ultrasound.

Your healthcare provider should provide instructions before any pelvic scan. Make sure to reach out with questions you may have.

Where is a pelvic ultrasound performed?

You may need to go to a center that specializes in imaging for a pelvic ultrasound. But many healthcare providers have ultrasound equipment in their clinics. That makes it convenient for you to receive an in-office scan without going to a separate location.

How is an abdominal pelvic ultrasound done?

Your healthcare provider applies warm gel on the lower part of your belly. The gel helps the transducer glide smoothly over your skin and create clearer pictures. Your provider moves the transducer over different areas of your abdomen. You shouldn’t feel any pain.

How is a transvaginal ultrasound done?

During a transvaginal exam, your healthcare provider will insert the transducer a few inches into your vagina after covering it in a lubricating gel. It may feel a bit uncomfortable at first, like a gynecologic exam. Your provider gently moves the transducer at different angles to get clear pictures of your reproductive organs.

How is a rectal ultrasound done?

During a rectal ultrasound, you lie on your side. Your healthcare provider inserts a lubricated transducer into your rectum to examine the lining there. Your provider may also scan the prostate.

Are there side effects after a pelvic scan?

You shouldn’t experience any side effects after a pelvic scan. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience pain, bleeding, fever or other problems.

How are the results of a pelvic scan handled?

Your ultrasound provider sends the pictures to a radiologist (imaging specialist). The radiologist examines the images carefully and makes a diagnosis. The radiologist then shares that information with your healthcare provider. Your provider will contact you to discuss the results. In some instances, like in obstetrics and gynecology, your healthcare provider may interpret the images directly without consulting a radiologist.

What are the benefits of a pelvic scan?

Pelvic scans are widely used because they are:

  • Detailed: Pelvic scans produce high-quality images.
  • Quick: Pelvic scans take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.
  • Safe: Pelvic scans do not use radiation, which can occasionally cause medical problems with higher doses.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

A pelvic ultrasound is a safe, reliable imaging exam. It can detect and diagnose a range of health conditions, especially with reproductive organs. An accurate, timely scan means you may be able to get treatment sooner if there is a problem. Often, an ultrasound can rule out health conditions and confirm that you have a clean bill of health.

BREAST ULTRASOUND

If you feel a lump in your breast, or one shows up on your mammogram, your provider may recommend an ultrasound. A breast ultrasound produces detailed images of breast tissue. It can reveal if the lump is a fluid-filled cyst (usually not cancerous) or a solid mass that needs more testing.

What is breast ultrasound?

An ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to take pictures of internal organs and tissues.

A breast ultrasound provides pictures of the insides of your breasts. This test can give more information about small areas of interest within the breast that may be difficult to see in detail on a mammogram.

When is a breast ultrasound needed?

Typically, healthcare providers don’t use breast ultrasound on its own to screen for breast cancer. More often, they recommend an ultrasound to follow up on suspicious areas seen on a mammogram. Because hand-held ultrasound uses a small probe to check the tissue, it is most useful when there is a specific targeted area of interest within the breast to examine. Mammography is still the best tool for screening the entire breast, even in dense breasts.

A healthcare provider may recommend a breast ultrasound for many different reasons. Some of the most common are:

  • Checking if a breast lump is a fluid-filled breast cyst (usually not cancerous) or a solid mass (which may require further testing).
  • Investigating a focal area in the breast that appeared abnormal on a mammogram.
  • Examining a pregnant woman’s breasts in conjunction with physical exam. Occasionally, a mammogram is also used in pregnant women because radiation doses are very low and the abdomen can be shielded if concern for breast cancer detection is high.
  • Guiding a needle into a mass to sample tissue for a biopsy. Pathologists (specialized doctors) can then evaluate the tissue under a microscope to determine if the mass is breast cancer.

How do I prepare for a breast ultrasound?

On the day of your ultrasound, you should not apply any lotion or powder to the skin on or around your breasts or wear deodorant. These substances can interfere with getting clear images from the test. You may be relieved to know that any existing hair does not interfere with the images.

What happens during a breast ultrasound?

When you arrive at your provider’s office or imaging center, you’ll undress from the waist up. You’ll change into a robe or gown that opens in the front. Your provider will ask you to remove jewelry so that it doesn’t interfere with the images.

During the ultrasound, you lie on a table — usually in an angled position to optimize positioning for the imager. The ultrasound technician or radiologist (a doctor specialized in medical imaging) applies a clear, water-based gel to a wand, called a transducer. They move the transducer over the skin on and around your breasts.

The person imaging you can see the ultrasound images on a screen during the test. Representative images are saved to share with your doctors.

When the ultrasound is complete, you or the technician wipe any remaining gel off your skin.

What happens after a breast ultrasound?

After your breast ultrasound the radiologist interprets the images and reports the results to your healthcare provider. If any additional tests are needed, or follow up is recommended, that information is shared with you at the time of the exam.

What are the risks of a breast ultrasound?

Breast ultrasound uses sound waves — not radiation — to produce images. There are no known risks of ultrasound technology.

In some cases, the interpretation of your ultrasound results may lead to additional tests or procedures (such as a biopsy). These additional procedures carry their own risks. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks to decide which tests are right for you.

When should I call my doctor?

Call your healthcare provider if you:

  • Feel a new or changing lump, dimpling, or other changes in your breast or armpit that are unusual for you.
  • Have any nipple discharge, new inversion or skin changes of the nipple.
  • Think a breast implant has ruptured.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

A breast ultrasound is a safe, painless test to examine targeted areas of breast tissue. Breast ultrasound provides detailed images of breast tissue and can help your provider diagnose breast cysts or lumps. For women with dense breasts, mammography is still the best screening tool. If you have dense breasts or a family history of breast cancer, ask your provider about scheduling a risk assessment with a clinical breast specialists and supplemental screening tools such as MRI and tomosythesis (3D) mammography.

VASCULAR ULTRASOUND

Vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive test healthcare providers use to evaluate blood flow in the arteries and veins of the arms, neck and legs. Providers use this test to diagnose blood clots and peripheral artery disease. You may also have this test to see if you’re a good candidate for angioplasty or to check blood vessel health after bypass.

What is a vascular ultrasound?

Vascular ultrasound, also called a duplex study, is a noninvasive test. This test shows healthcare providers how blood flows in your arms, neck and legs. High-frequency sound waves create detailed images of soft tissue and blood vessels.

When is a vascular ultrasound performed?

Your healthcare provider may use vascular ultrasound to see how blood flows through your veins and arteries (blood vessels). You may have this test to help your provider diagnose:

When would I need a vascular ultrasound exam?

You may need a vascular ultrasound if you have symptoms like:

  • Burning feeling in your legs.
  • Muscle atrophy.
  • Pain in your buttocks, hips, thighs or calves.
  • Leg sores (ulcers) that don’t heal.

Healthcare providers also use vascular ultrasound to check blood flow to organs. You may have this test if you’ve received an organ transplant.

Providers may also order a vascular ultrasound exam to see if you’re a good angioplasty candidate or check blood vessel health after venous disease bypass surgery.

Who performs a vascular ultrasound exam?

An ultrasound technologist performs your vascular ultrasound exam. These technologists have special training in performing ultrasound tests.

How does vascular ultrasound work?

Vascular ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images. These sound waves pass through your soft tissues and blood vessels. Sound waves create echoes as they pass through tissue and computers turn these echoes into images or videos.

How do I prepare for a vascular ultrasound?

There’s nothing special you need to do to prepare for a vascular ultrasound. Plan to arrive at the facility about 15 minutes before your vascular ultrasound appointment.

You should wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing and leave any jewelry or valuables at home. Healthcare providers may ask you to change into a hospital gown.

What happens during a vascular ultrasound?

You lie on an examination table. The technologist applies a lubricating gel to your skin in the areas where they will examine your arteries and veins.

The technologist places a special probe called a transducer against your skin. You might feel a little pressure as they move the probe over the area. You may hear your blood flowing as it makes a pulsing or whooshing sound.

What should I expect after the vascular ultrasound?

When the exam is over, the technologist wipes the lubricating gel away. You can return to work or other activities immediately after your exam.

Does vascular ultrasound have any risks or side effects?

Vascular ultrasound is safe. You won’t have any side effects from the exam.

What results do healthcare providers get from vascular ultrasound?

Vascular ultrasound gives your healthcare provider information about how quickly (or slowly) blood flows through your body. This tells your provider if something is blocking a blood vessel (like a blood clot or plaque) or if blood vessels have become narrow.

How long does it take to get results from a vascular ultrasound?

A doctor who specializes in reading and interpreting radiographic images (radiologist) evaluates the images. When the radiologist has completed their review, they send the results to the doctor who ordered your vascular ultrasound.

When should I call my healthcare provider after a vascular ultrasound exam?

You shouldn’t expect any side effects from a vascular ultrasound exam. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop any new or worsening symptoms such as pain or redness in the examined area.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive test healthcare providers use to determine how blood flows in arteries and veins in your arms, neck and legs. They use this test to diagnose blood clots, narrowed blood vessels, and other vascular health conditions.

PREGNANCY ULTRASOUND

A prenatal or pregnancy ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of your baby on a screen. Pregnancy care providers use it to check on the health of your baby and detect certain pregnancy complications. Most people have two ultrasounds during pregnancy, but you may have more if your provider feels it’s medically necessary.

What is an ultrasound in pregnancy?

A prenatal ultrasound (or sonogram) is a test during pregnancy that checks on the health and development of your baby. An obstetrician, nurse midwife or ultrasound technician (sonographer) performs ultrasounds during pregnancy for many reasons. Sometimes ultrasounds occur to check on your baby and make sure they’re growing properly. Other times your pregnancy care provider orders an ultrasound after they detect a problem.

During an ultrasound, sound waves are sent through your abdomen or vagina by a device called a transducer. The sound waves bounce off structures inside your body, including your baby and your reproductive organs. Then, the sound waves transform into images that your provider can see on a screen. It doesn’t use radiation, like X-rays, to see your baby.

Even though prenatal ultrasounds are safe, you should only have them when it’s medically necessary. If there’s no reason for an ultrasound (for example, if you just want to see your baby), your insurance company might not pay for it.

Prenatal ultrasounds may be called fetal ultrasounds or pregnancy ultrasounds. Your provider will talk to you about when you can expect ultrasounds during pregnancy based on your health history.

Why is a fetal ultrasound important during pregnancy?

An ultrasound is one of the few ways your pregnancy care provider can see and hear your baby. It can help them determine how far along you are in pregnancy, if your baby is growing properly or if there are any potential problems with the pregnancy. Ultrasounds may occur at any time in pregnancy depending on what your provider is looking for.

What can be detected in a pregnancy ultrasound?

A prenatal ultrasound does two things:

  • Evaluates the overall health, growth and development of the fetus.
  • Detects certain complications and medical conditions related to pregnancy.

In most pregnancies, ultrasounds are positive experiences and pregnancy care providers don’t find any problems. However, there are times this isn’t the case and your provider detects birth disorders or other problems with the pregnancy.

Reasons why your provider performs a prenatal ultrasound are to:

Ultrasound is also an important tool to help providers screen for congenital conditions (conditions your baby is born with). A screening is a type of test that determines if your baby is more likely to have a specific health condition. Your provider also uses ultrasound to guide the needle during certain diagnostic procedures in pregnancy like amniocentesis or CVS (chorionic villus sampling).

An ultrasound is also part of a biophysical profile (BPP), a test that combines ultrasound with a nonstress test to evaluate if your baby is getting enough oxygen.

How many ultrasounds do you have during your pregnancy?

Most pregnant people have one or two ultrasounds during pregnancy. However, the number and timing vary depending on your pregnancy care provider and if you have any health conditions. If your pregnancy is high risk or if your provider suspects you or your baby has a health condition, they may suggest more frequent ultrasounds.

When do you have your first prenatal ultrasound?

The timing of your first ultrasound varies depending on your provider. Some people have an early ultrasound (also called a first-trimester ultrasound or dating ultrasound). This can happen as early as seven to eight weeks of pregnancy. Providers do an early ultrasound through your vagina (transvaginal ultrasound). Early ultrasounds do the following:

  • Confirm pregnancy (by detecting a heartbeat).
  • Check for multiple fetuses.
  • Measure the size of the fetus.
  • Help confirm gestational age and due date.

Some providers perform your first ultrasound closer to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

20-week ultrasound (anatomy scan)

You can expect an ultrasound around 18 to 20 weeks in pregnancy. This is known as the anatomy ultrasound or 20-week ultrasound. During this ultrasound, your pregnancy care provider can see your baby’s sex (if your baby is in a good position for viewing their genitals), detect birth disorders like cleft palate or find serious conditions related to your baby’s brain, heart, bones or kidneys. If your pregnancy is progressing well and with no complications, your 20-week ultrasound may be your last ultrasound during pregnancy. However, if your provider detects a problem during your 20-week ultrasound, they may order additional ultrasounds.

How soon can you see a baby on an ultrasound?

Pregnancy care providers can detect an embryo on an ultrasound as early as six weeks into the pregnancy. An embryo develops into a fetus around the eighth week of pregnancy.

If your last menstrual period isn’t accurate, it’s possible that it may be too early to detect a fetal heart rate.

Which ultrasound is most important during pregnancy?

All ultrasounds during pregnancy are important. Your pregnancy care provider uses ultrasound to tell them important information about your pregnancy.

What are the two main types of pregnancy ultrasounds?

The two main types of pregnancy ultrasound are transvaginal ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound. Both use the same technology to produce images of your baby. Your pregnancy care provider performs a transvaginal ultrasound by placing a wand-like device inside your vagina. They perform an abdominal ultrasound by placing a device on the skin of your belly.

Transvaginal ultrasound

During a transvaginal ultrasound, your pregnancy care provider places a device inside your vaginal canal (similar to how you place a tampon). In early pregnancy, this ultrasound helps to detect a fetal heartbeat or determine how far along you are in your pregnancy (gestational age). Images from a transvaginal ultrasound are clearer in early pregnancy as compared to abdominal ultrasound.

Abdominal ultrasound

Your pregnancy care provider performs an abdominal ultrasound by placing a transducer directly on your skin. Then, they move the transducer around your belly (abdomen) to capture images of your baby. Sometimes slight pressure has to be applied to get the best views. Providers use abdominal ultrasounds after about 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Traditional ultrasounds are 2D. More advanced technologies like 3D or 4D ultrasound can create better images. This is helpful when your provider needs to see your baby’s face or organs in greater detail. Not all providers have 3D or 4D ultrasound equipment or specialized training to conduct this type of ultrasound.

Your provider may recommend other types of ultrasounds. Examples of additional ultrasounds are:

  • Doppler ultrasound: This type of ultrasound checks how your baby’s blood flows through its blood vessels. Most Doppler ultrasounds occur later in pregnancy.
  • Fetal echocardiogram: This type of ultrasound looks at your baby’s heart size, shape, function and structure. Your provider may use it if they suspect your baby has a congenital heart condition, if you had another child that had a heart condition or if you have certain health conditions that warrant taking a closer look at the heart.

How do I prepare for the test?

There’s no special preparation for an ultrasound. Some pregnancy care providers ask that you come with a full bladder and don’t use the restroom before the test. This helps them view your baby better on the ultrasound. You can bring a support person, but bringing children is discouraged as this is an important test that requires complete focus.

You may be asked to change into a hospital gown, but this isn’t usually required for abdominal ultrasounds. If your provider is performing a transvaginal ultrasound in your first trimester, you’ll put on a hospital gown or undress from the waist down.

What should I expect during a prenatal ultrasound?

You’ll lie on a padded examining table during the test. Most ultrasounds occur in a dimly lit room, which helps your ultrasound technician (or sonographer) see the screen. Your sonographer applies a small amount of water-soluble gel to the skin of your belly. The gel doesn’t harm your skin or stain your clothes, but it may feel cold. This gel helps transmit sound waves more efficiently.

Next, the sonographer places a transducer on the skin of your abdomen. The transducer sends sound waves into your body, which reflect off internal structures, including your baby. The sound waves that reflect back create pictures on a screen. Your sonographer uses these images to take important measurements such as your baby’s head circumference and length. You may see them making lines on the screen or clicking a button to “freeze” certain angles.

There’s virtually no discomfort during a prenatal ultrasound. You may feel mild discomfort if you have to pee. The ultrasound test takes about 30 minutes to complete.

If you have a transvaginal ultrasound, the process is only different in that the transducer is inside your vagina and not on your belly.

What should I expect after a pregnancy ultrasound?

If you had an abdominal ultrasound, your sonographer wipes the gel off your belly. They may print off some ultrasound pictures for you to take home with you.

In most cases, your sonographer won’t discuss the results of your test with you. If your obstetrician performs your ultrasound, they may discuss what they see as they go along.

If a sonographer performs your ultrasound, an obstetrician will look at the images, then discuss their findings with you at your next appointment. Most practices schedule your appointment right after your ultrasound so you get your results the same day.

What are the risks of prenatal ultrasounds?

Studies have shown ultrasounds are safe during pregnancy. There are no harmful side effects to you or your baby.

Is it safe to do an ultrasound every month during pregnancy?

While ultrasounds are safe for you and your baby, most major medical associations recommend that pregnancy care providers should only do ultrasounds when the tests are medically necessary. If your ultrasounds are normal and your pregnancy is uncomplicated or low risk, repeat ultrasounds aren’t necessary.

What results do you get on a pregnancy ultrasound?

Your ultrasound results will be normal or abnormal. A normal result means your pregnancy care provider didn’t find any problems and that your baby is growing and developing normally. An abnormal result means your provider noticed something irregular. If they do, your provider will order additional ultrasounds or diagnostic tests to determine if something is wrong.

Occasionally, the ultrasound is incomplete if there’s difficulty seeing all the structures needed for that particular ultrasound. Your baby’s position or movement sometimes makes it difficult to see everything your provider needs to see. If this is the case, you’ll need a repeat ultrasound and they’ll try again.

There are some limitations to ultrasounds, so your provider may not find certain abnormalities until after birth.

What are reasons you need more ultrasounds during pregnancy?

There are several reasons your pregnancy care provider may order additional ultrasounds during your pregnancy. Some of these reasons include:

  • Problems with your ovaries, uterus, cervix or other pelvic organs.
  • Your baby is measuring small for their gestational age or your provider suspects IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction).
  • Problems with the placenta like placenta previa or placental abruption.
  • You’re pregnant with twins, triplets or more.
  • Your baby is breech.
  • You have too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios).
  • You have too little amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios).
  • You have a condition like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
  • Your baby has a congenital disorder.

Normal results on pregnancy ultrasounds can vary. Generally, a normal result means your baby appears healthy and your provider didn’t find any issues.

Why do some pregnancy providers schedule ultrasounds differently?

The number of ultrasounds you’ll have and when you have them can vary between providers. Every practice operates differently and some providers do things differently based on your health history or symptoms.

When does a pregnancy ultrasound determine sex?

Your baby’s sex isn’t visible on an ultrasound until about 18 to 20 weeks. Be sure to tell your pregnancy care provider whether or not you want to know the sex of your baby before your ultrasound.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

An ultrasound during pregnancy can be both exciting and terrifying. Your pregnancy care provider uses ultrasound to get a better idea of how your baby is growing and developing. There are different types of ultrasounds, and the exact timing may vary depending on your provider. Most pregnant people have two ultrasounds — one in the first trimester and one in the second trimester. However, if there’s a potential complication or medical reason for more ultrasounds, your provider will order more as a precaution. Talk to your provider about the ultrasound schedule during pregnancy and what you can expect.

ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND

An abdominal ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to see structures inside your belly. This test checks the health of your abdominal organs — like your liver, gallbladder and kidneys — and the blood vessels that lead to them.

What is an abdominal ultrasound?

An abdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of the organs and blood vessels in your belly (abdomen).

You might hear healthcare providers use the term sonogram. Generally, “ultrasound” refers to the test, and “sonogram” refers to the image the test produces.

Why would a doctor order an abdominal ultrasound?

There are several reasons why a healthcare provider may recommend an abdominal ultrasound. One of the most common is to check on a developing fetus throughout pregnancy. Providers often call this test a prenatal ultrasound.

Ultrasound can also check parts of your digestive system, including your:

A complete abdominal ultrasound examines those three organs, as well as your:

What can an abdominal ultrasound detect?

Abdominal ultrasound may also help pinpoint the cause of unexplained abdomen (stomach) pain. It can help diagnose conditions, as well, like:

How does an abdominal ultrasound work?

Ultrasound uses sound waves you can’t hear to take pictures of soft tissues inside your body. To capture these images, a provider glides a handheld wand (transducer) over your abdomen.

The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves that bounce off structures like organs, blood vessels and other soft tissues. A computer receives these signals and uses them to create pictures.

Abdominal ultrasound preparation

Your healthcare provider will give you complete instructions before your ultrasound. Follow their guidelines to ensure the most accurate test results.

Your provider may ask you to stop eating or drinking some hours before your test. In some cases, you may need to drink a specific amount of water right before your test. Or you may not need to prepare at all.

Abdominal ultrasound fasting

Depending on your situation, you might need to fast before your abdominal ultrasound. Having a full (or empty) bladder or stomach can sometimes lead to blurry images. Ask your provider if you should fast before your appointment.

What to expect during the test

For an abdominal ultrasound, you’ll lie on your back on a comfortable table. You’ll need to pull up or remove your shirt or put on a hospital gown.

During the test, a healthcare provider:

  1. Applies gel to your abdomen. This gel may feel cold, but it won’t hurt you or damage your clothes.
  2. Moves the probe over your skin. Your provider gently moves the handheld ultrasound wand over your skin, on top of the gel. They’ll move the wand back and forth until they clearly see the areas in question.
  3. Gives you instructions. The provider performing this test may ask you to turn to one side or hold your breath for a few seconds.
  4. Cleans your skin. They’ll wipe off any remaining gel on your skin.

If your provider wants to study your blood vessels, your test may include Doppler ultrasound. Doppler sound waves detect details of how blood flows inside your blood vessels.

How long do abdominal ultrasounds take?

On average, an abdominal ultrasound usually takes 30 minutes to complete. But it could take more or less time depending on your situation.

Are ultrasounds safe?

Yes, ultrasound is a safe and accurate imaging test. Unlike X-ray imaging, ultrasound doesn’t use radiation (which can cause health issues at high doses). Ultrasound has no known side effects.

When should I know the results?

After your test, a radiologist (doctor who specializes in reading medical images) will review your ultrasound pictures. Then they’ll write a report of their findings and send it to your primary care physician (PCP). In most cases, this takes about one week or less.

Providers sometimes use ultrasound to diagnose potentially life-threatening conditions in an emergency. If your provider suspects an urgent concern, you’ll get results right away.

What should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you need an abdominal ultrasound, here are some questions you may want to ask your provider:

  • What type of ultrasound do I need?
  • Will I need any other tests?
  • How do I need to prepare for my abdominal ultrasound?
  • When can I expect to get my results?

Can you drink water before an ultrasound of the abdomen?

It depends. Drinking small amounts of water with daily medication is usually OK. But your provider might need you to fast for eight hours before your exam. If you’re not sure, ask your healthcare provider what you need to do in the hours leading up to your appointment.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

If you need an abdominal ultrasound, it’s normal to wonder what to expect the day of your test. Ultrasound imaging is safe and noninvasive. In most cases, it only takes about 30 minutes. Your healthcare provider can talk to you about why you need an ultrasound and what you can expect once you get your results.

ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging test that shows structures inside your body using high-intensity sound waves. Healthcare providers use ultrasound exams for several purposes, including during pregnancy, for diagnosing conditions and for image guidance during certain procedures.

What is an ultrasound?

Ultrasound (also called sonography or ultrasonography) is a noninvasive imaging test. An ultrasound picture is called a sonogram. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures or video of internal organs or other soft tissues, such as blood vessels.

Ultrasound enables healthcare providers to “see” details of soft tissues inside your body without making any incisions (cuts). And unlike X-rays, ultrasound doesn’t use radiation.

Although most people associate ultrasound with pregnancy, healthcare providers use ultrasound for many different situations and to look at several different parts of the inside of your body.

How does an ultrasound work?

During an ultrasound, a healthcare provider passes a device called a transducer or probe over an area of your body or inside a body opening. The provider applies a thin layer of gel to your skin so that the ultrasound waves are transmitted from the transducer through the gel and into your body.

The probe converts electrical current into high-frequency sound waves and sends the waves into your body’s tissue. You can’t hear the sound waves.

Sound waves bounce off structures inside your body and back to the probe, which converts the waves into electrical signals. A computer then converts the pattern of electrical signals into real-time images or videos, which are displayed on a computer screen nearby.

What are the different kinds of ultrasounds?

There are three main categories of ultrasound imaging, including:

  • Pregnancy ultrasound (prenatal ultrasound).
  • Diagnostic ultrasound.
  • Ultrasound guidance for procedures.

Pregnancy ultrasound

Healthcare providers often use ultrasound (often called prenatal or obstetric ultrasound) to monitor you and the fetus during pregnancy.

Providers use prenatal ultrasound to:

  • Confirm that you’re pregnant.
  • Check to see if you’re pregnant with more than one fetus.
  • Estimate how long you’ve been pregnant and the gestational age of the fetus.
  • Check the fetal growth and position.
  • See the fetal movement and heart rate.
  • Check for congenital conditions (birth defects) in the fetal brain, spinal cord, heart or other parts of its body.
  • Check the amount of amniotic fluid.

Most healthcare providers recommend an ultrasound at 20 weeks pregnant. This test tracks the fetus’s growth and development during pregnancy. This ultrasound may also show the biological sex of the fetus. Tell your technician if you do or do not want to know the sex.

Your provider may order extra scans to get answers to any questions or concerns, such as the potential for congenital conditions.

Diagnostic ultrasound

Providers use diagnostic ultrasounds to view internal parts of your body to see if something is wrong or not working properly. They can help your provider learn more about what’s causing a wide range of symptoms, such as unexplained pain, masses (lumps) or what may be causing an abnormal blood test.

For most diagnostic ultrasound exams, the technician places the transducer (probe) on your skin. In some cases, they may need to place the probe inside your body, such as in your vagina or rectum.

The type of diagnostic ultrasound you have depends on the details of your case.

Examples of diagnostic ultrasounds include:

  • Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound probe moves across the skin of your midsection (belly) area. Abdominal ultrasound can diagnose many causes of abdominal pain.
  • Kidney (renal) ultrasound: Providers use kidney ultrasound to assess the size, location and shape of your kidneys and related structures, such as your ureters and bladder. Ultrasound can detect cysts, tumors, obstructions or infections within or around your kidneys.
  • Breast ultrasound: A breast ultrasound is a noninvasive test to identify breast lumps and cysts. Your provider may recommend an ultrasound after an abnormal mammogram.
  • Doppler ultrasound: This is a special ultrasound technique that assesses the movement of materials, like blood, in your body. It allows your provider to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in your body. Doppler ultrasound is often used as part of a diagnostic ultrasound study or as part of a vascular ultrasound.
  • Pelvic ultrasound: A pelvic ultrasound looks at the organs in your pelvic area between your lower abdomen (belly) and legs. Some of the pelvic organs include your bladder, prostate, rectum, ovaries, uterus and vagina.
  • Transvaginal ultrasound: Your provider inserts a probe into your vaginal canal. It shows reproductive tissues such as your uterus or ovaries. A transvaginal ultrasound is sometimes called a pelvic ultrasound because it evaluates structures inside your pelvis (hip bones).
  • Thyroid ultrasound: Providers use ultrasound to assess your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in your neck. Providers can measure the size of your thyroid and see if there are nodules or lesions within the gland.
  • Transrectal ultrasound: Your provider inserts an ultrasound probe transducer into your rectum. It evaluates your rectum or other nearby tissues, such as the prostate in people assigned male at birth.

Ultrasound guidance for procedures

Providers sometimes use ultrasound to perform certain procedures precisely. A common use of ultrasound is to guide needle placement to sample fluid or tissue from:

  • Tendons.
  • Joints.
  • Muscles.
  • Cysts or fluid collections.
  • Soft-tissue masses.
  • Organs (liver, kidney or prostate).
  • Transplant organs (liver, kidney or pancreas).

Examples of other procedures that may require ultrasound guidance include:

  • Embryo transfer for in vitro fertilization.
  • Nerve blocks.
  • Confirming the placement of an IUD (intrauterine device) after insertion.
  • Lesion localization procedures.

What is the difference between a 3D ultrasound and a 4D ultrasound?

For ultrasounds during pregnancy, the traditional ultrasound is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the fetus. 2D ultrasound produces outlines and flat-looking images, which allows your healthcare provider to see the fetus’s internal organs and structures.

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound allows the visualization of some facial features of the fetus and possibly other body parts such as fingers and toes. Four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound is 3D ultrasound in motion. Providers rarely use 3D or 4D fetal ultrasound imaging for medical purposes, though it can be useful in diagnosing a facial or skeletal issue. They do, however, use 3D ultrasound for other medical purposes, such as evaluating uterine polyps and fibroids.

While ultrasound is generally considered to be safe with very low risks, the risks may increase with unnecessary prolonged exposure to ultrasound energy or when untrained users operate an ultrasound machine. Because of this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against getting a 3D ultrasound for non-medical reasons such as for “keepsake” moments or entertainment.

Who performs an ultrasound?

A doctor or a healthcare provider called an ultrasound technician or sonographer performs ultrasounds. They’re specially trained to operate an ultrasound machine properly and safely.

It’s important to always have your ultrasound performed by a medical professional and in a medical facility.

How do I prepare for an ultrasound?

The preparations will depend on the type of ultrasound you’re having. Some types of ultrasounds require no preparation at all.

For ultrasounds of the pelvis, including ultrasounds during pregnancy, of the female reproductive system and of the urinary system, you may need to fill up your bladder by drinking water before the test.

For ultrasounds of the abdomen, you may need to adjust your diet or fast (not eat or drink anything except water) for several hours before your test.

In any case, your healthcare provider will let you know if you need to do anything special to prepare for your ultrasound. They may give you instructions during an appointment or when scheduling your ultrasound. Instructions may also be available in your electronic medical records if you use such a system.

What happens during an ultrasound?

Preparation for an ultrasound varies depending on what body part you’ll have scanned. Your provider may ask you to remove certain pieces of clothes or change into a hospital gown.

Ultrasounds that involve applying the transducer (probe) over your skin (not in your body), follow these general steps:

  1. You’ll lie on your side or back on a comfortable table.
  2. The ultrasound technician will apply a small amount of water-soluble gel on your skin over the area to be examined. This gel doesn’t harm your skin or stain your clothes.
  3. The technician will move a handheld transducer or probe over the gel to get images inside your body.
  4. The technician may ask you to be very still or to hold your breath for a few seconds to create clearer pictures.
  5. Once the technician has gotten enough images, they’ll wipe off any remaining gel on your skin and you’ll be done.

An ultrasound test usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. If you have any questions about your specific type of ultrasound, ask your healthcare provider.

Is an ultrasound painful?

Ultrasounds that are performed externally (over your skin) are generally not painful. You won’t feel the sound waves that ultrasound uses. If you have to have a full bladder for the procedure, it may be uncomfortable. It may also be uncomfortable to lay on the exam table if you’re pregnant.

Ultrasounds that go inside body cavities, such as your vagina or rectum, may be uncomfortable, but they shouldn’t hurt.

Are ultrasounds safe?

Yes, research to date has largely shown ultrasound technology to be safe with no harmful side effects. Ultrasound doesn’t use radiation, unlike some other medical imaging tests, such as X-rays and CT scans.

Still, all ultrasounds should be done by a professional who has training in using this specialized technology safely.

When should I know the results of my ultrasound?

The time it takes to get your results depends on the type of ultrasound you get. In some cases, such as prenatal ultrasound, your provider may analyze the images and provide results during the test.

In other cases, a radiologist, a healthcare provider trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the images and then send the report to the provider who requested the exam. Your provider will then share the results with you or they may be available in your electronic medical record (if you have an account set up) before your provider reviews the results.

What conditions can be detected by ultrasound?

Ultrasound can help providers diagnose a wide range of medical issues, including:

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider about my ultrasound?

If you need an ultrasound, you may want to ask your provider the following questions:

  • What type of ultrasound do I need?
  • What should I do to prepare for my ultrasound?
  • Do I need any other tests?
  • When should I expect to get test results?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Ultrasounds are common, safe and effective imaging tests. Make sure you get an ultrasound from a well-trained professional (sonographer) who understands how to use this technology properly. If you have any questions about your specific ultrasound test, talk to your healthcare provider. They’re available to help.

ATHEROMA

An atheroma (plaque) is a fatty material that builds up inside your arteries. It’s made of cholesterol, proteins and other substances that circulate in your blood. Atheromas grow over time and may lead to coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, heart attack or stroke. Lifestyle changes and medications lower your risk of complications.

What is an atheroma?

An atheroma is a fatty substance that builds up in your arteries over time. An atheroma is more commonly known as atherosclerotic plaque, or simply plaque. Atheromas form along the inside lining of your arteries and interrupt blood flow through your body. Atheromas are dangerous because:

  • They gradually take up more space inside your artery. This leaves less room for blood to flow.
  • They can rupture and cause a blood clot to form. The clot may block blood flow at that spot. Or, the clot may travel somewhere else in your body and block blood flow there.

Atheromas can lead to complications like a heart attack or stroke. It’s important to learn about what they are and how to lower your risk.

Is atheroma the same as plaque?

Yes. These two words both refer to the fatty substance that lines your artery walls.

What is an atheroma made of?

Atheromas are made of many substances that circulate in your blood. These include:

  • Blood cells.
  • Calcium.
  • Cholesterol and other fats.
  • Inflammatory cells.
  • Proteins.

Calcium is a substance that hardens the atheroma. That’s why people with plaque buildup are known to have “hardening of the arteries.”

What is aortic atheroma?

Aortic atheroma refers to plaque that builds up in your aorta. This condition is called atherosclerosis of the aorta. Your aorta is the largest artery in your body. It extends upward from your heart and then curves downward through your chest and belly. Plaque buildup in your aorta raises your risk of many conditions, including:

Is atheroma a tumor?

No, atheroma isn’t a tumor. It’s a substance that builds up in your arteries.

It can be easy to confuse different medical terms. “Atheroma” looks like the names of some tumors, like carcinoma. But atheroma isn’t related to tumors or cancer. It’s related to your blood vessels and your heart health.

What causes atheromas to form?

Atheromas form because your artery’s inner lining (endothelium) becomes damaged. Scientists continue to learn more about what causes endothelial damage. But it’s clear that once your endothelium is damaged, an atheroma begins to form at the site. And it grows over time.

Risk factors for atheroma formation and growth include:

Atheromas can form anywhere in your arteries. But they’re more likely to form near branch points (where one artery extends from another) or bifurcations (where one artery splits into two).

Think of your arteries like a complex network of roads. Usually, traffic builds up at intersections rather than in areas where the road is wide open with no traffic lights. When it comes to your arteries, plaque usually builds up near the spots where arteries intersect. Scientists continue to study exactly why plaque tends to build up near these intersections.

What is the difference between atheroma and atherosclerosis?

Here’s the short version: Atheroma is a substance, and atherosclerosis is a disease.

Now here’s a bit more detail. Atheroma refers to the fatty material that clogs your arteries. It builds up over time and can lead to complications. Atheroma (plaque) is the defining feature of a disease called atherosclerosis. When you have atherosclerosis, you have plaque buildup in your arteries. The plaque gets bigger slowly and silently over the years.

Plaque buildup can begin when you’re in your teens or 20s, and it continues throughout your life. It’s a result of many factors like diet, lifestyle and genetics. But the process happens more quickly in some people compared with others. And some people face complications earlier in life. This is usually due to risk factors like smoking or a family history of early heart disease.

Atherosclerosis can interfere with blood flow in many different parts of your body. As the atheromas get bigger, they take up more space in your arteries. Over time, this plaque buildup may lead to:

It’s often hard to know if you have plaque buildup since you may not feel any symptoms. In fact, you probably won’t notice symptoms until your arteries are at least 70% clogged. Symptoms depend on which arteries are clogged.

Arteries affectedPossible symptoms
Arteries that supply blood to your heart (coronary arteries).Chest pain or discomfort that starts when you’re active and goes away when you rest (stable angina).
Arteries that supply blood to your pelvis and legs (iliac or femoral arteries).Leg pain that starts when you’re active and goes away when you rest (claudication).
Arteries that supply blood to your brain (carotid arteries).Stroke.
Arteries that supply blood to your intestines (mesenteric arteries).Stomach pain after you eat (postprandial cramps, also known as “abdominal angina”).
Arteries that supply blood to your kidneys (renal arteries).Secondary hypertension and potentially reduced kidney function.

Because atheromas can grow without causing symptoms, it’s important to see your healthcare provider every year. Your provider will talk with you about your risk factors and your family history of heart disease. They may also run tests to check your heart and blood vessels.

Can you reverse atheromas?

Atheromas can’t be reversed once they’ve formed. But there’s a lot you can do to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis. Lifestyle changes and medications play a big role. If you’ve been diagnosed with atherosclerosis, talk with your provider about how to manage your condition.

In general, here are some tips for slowing down atheroma buildup in your arteries:

  • Don’t smoke or use tobacco products. Tobacco use is a huge risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Talk with your provider about resources to help you quit.
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet. Avoid foods high in saturated fat. These include fatty meats and full-fat dairy products. Eliminate any foods containing trans fat (like fast food and packaged convenience foods). Limit your intake of sugar, sodium and refined carbohydrates (like white bread).
  • Exercise. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. This could mean you take a 30-minute walk five days per week. Or, find other activities you enjoy, like cycling or swimming. It’s important to check with your provider before starting a new exercise plan.
  • Take your medications as prescribed. Medications can help you manage risk factors for atherosclerosis. Your provider may prescribe blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication or other drugs. If you experience side effects, talk with your provider right away. Never stop taking a medication without talking to your provider first.
  • Visit your healthcare provider for yearly checkups. Your provider will assess your risk for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Be sure to keep your follow-up appointments, and share any questions or concerns you have.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Whether you call it atheroma or plaque, that fatty substance in your arteries isn’t beneficial to your health. But in the battle against atherosclerosis, you’re not alone. Talk with your healthcare provider about ways to slow the progression of plaque buildup in your arteries. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and eating healthy foods can help protect your arteries for years to come.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein located deep within your body, usually in your leg. Get treatment right away so you can prevent serious complications. Treatments include medicines, compression stockings and surgery. Be patient. You may need to take medicine for a few months and wear compression stockings for two years.

What is deep vein thrombosis?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, also called venous thrombosis) occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) develops in veins deep in your body because your veins are injured or the blood flowing through them is too sluggish. The blood clots may partially or completely block blood flow through your vein. Most DVTs happen in your lower leg, thigh or pelvis, but they also can occur in other parts of your body including your arm, brain, intestines, liver or kidney.

What is the danger of DVT?

Even though DVT itself is not life-threatening, the blood clots have the potential to break free and travel through your bloodstream. A pulmonary embolism (PE) happens when the traveling blood clots (emboli) become lodged in the blood vessels of your lung. Since this can be a life-threatening condition, you need a quick diagnosis and treatment.

As many as half of those who get a DVT in their legs develop symptoms of intermittent leg pain and swelling that may last months to years. These symptoms are called post-thrombotic syndrome and can happen because of damage to the valves and inner lining of your veins leading to blood “pooling” more than it should. This increases the pressure inside your veins and causes pain and swelling.

Characteristics of this condition include:

  • Pooling of blood.
  • Chronic leg swelling.
  • Increased pressure within your veins.
  • Increased pigmentation or discoloration of your skin.
  • Leg ulcers known as venous stasis ulcers.

What is the difference between DVT and a superficial venous thrombosis?

A superficial venous thrombosis (also called phlebitis or superficial thrombophlebitis) is when blood clots develop in a vein close to the surface of your skin. These types of blood clots rarely travel to your lungs unless they move from the superficial system into the deep venous system first. While a physician can diagnose superficial vein clots with a physical exam, they can only diagnose DVT with an ultrasound.

How common is deep vein thrombosis?

Each year, approximately 1 to 3 in every 1,000 adults develop a DVT or pulmonary embolism in the United States, and up to 300,000 people die each year as a result of DVT/PE. It’s the third most common vascular disease, behind heart attacks and strokes. Acute DVT/PE can occur at any age, but are less common in children and adolescents and more common in those over the age of 60. More than half of all DVTs happen as a result of being in the hospital from a medical illness or following surgery. The reason why DVTs are more common after a hospital stay is because you’re lying in bed most of the time instead of moving around like you normally would.

What are the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis?

A DVT usually forms in the veins of your legs or arms. Up to 30%of people with a DVT don’t have symptoms, but sometimes the symptoms are very mild and may not raise concern. The symptoms associated with an acute DVT include:

  • Swelling of your leg or arm (sometimes this happens suddenly).
  • Pain or tenderness in your leg or arm (may only happen when standing or walking).
  • The area of your leg or arm that’s swollen or hurts may be warmer than usual.
  • Skin that’s red or discolored.
  • The veins near your skin’s surface may be larger than normal.
  • Abdominal pain or flank pain (when blood clots affect the veins deep inside your abdomen).
  • Severe headache (usually of sudden onset) and/or seizures (when blood clots affect the veins of your brain).

Some people don’t know they have a DVT until the clot moves from their leg or arm and travels to their lung. Symptoms of acute PE include chest pain, shortness of breath, cough with blood, lightheadedness and fainting.

It’s important to call your doctor right away or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of a DVT. Don’t wait to see if your symptoms go away. Get treatment right away to prevent serious complications.

What causes deep vein thrombosis?

These conditions can increase your risk of a deep vein thrombosis:

  • Having an inherited (genetic) condition increases your risk of blood clots.
  • Having cancer and some of its treatments (chemotherapy).
  • Having a history of deep vein thrombosis in yourself or your family.
  • Having limited blood flow in a deep vein because of an injury, surgery or immobilization.
  • Not moving for long periods of time, like sitting for a long time on trips in a car, truck, bus, train or airplane or being immobile after surgery or a serious injury.
  • Being pregnant or having recently delivered a baby.
  • Being older than 40 (although a DVT can affect people of any age).
  • Having overweight/obesity.
  • Having an autoimmune disease, like lupus, vasculitis or inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Using tobacco products.
  • Having varicose veins.
  • Taking birth control pills or hormone therapy.
  • Having a central venous catheter or pacemaker.
  • Having COVID-19.

How is DVT diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and review your medical history. You’ll also need to have imaging tests.

Tests to diagnose a DVT

Duplex venous ultrasound. This is the most common test for diagnosing a DVT because it is non-invasive and widely available. This test uses ultrasound waves to show blood flow and blood clots in your veins. A vascular ultrasound technologist applies pressure while scanning your arm or leg. If the pressure doesn’t make your vein compress, it could mean there’s a blood clot. If the results of the duplex ultrasound aren’t clear, your provider can use another imaging test

Venography. In this invasive test, your provider numbs the skin of your neck or groin and uses a catheter to inject a special dye (contrast material) into your veins to see if any blood clots are partially or completely blocking blood flow inside your veins. Venography is rarely used nowadays, but sometimes it is necessary

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Venography (MRV). MRI shows pictures of organs and structures inside your body. MRV shows pictures of the veins in specific locations in your body. In many cases, MRI and MRV can offer more information than a duplex ultrasound or CT scan.

Computed tomography (CT) scan is a type of X-ray that shows structures inside your body. Your provider may use a CT scan to find a DVT in your abdomen, pelvis or brain, as well as blood clots in your lung (pulmonary embolism).

If your doctor thinks you may have a genetic or acquired clotting disorder, you may need to have special blood tests. This may be important if:

  • You have a history of blood clots that your provider can’t link to any other cause.
  • You have a blood clot in an unusual location, such as in a vein from your intestines, liver, kidney or brain.
  • You have a strong family history of blood clots.
  • You have a family history of a specific genetic clotting disorder.

Activity Guidelines

A DVT may make it harder for you to get around at first because of leg pain and swelling. But you’ll be able to slowly return to your normal activities. If your legs feel swollen or heavy, lie in bed with your heels propped up about 5 to 6 inches. This helps improve circulation and decreases swelling.

In addition:

  • Exercise your calf muscles if you’re sitting still for long periods of time.
  • Stand up and walk for a few minutes every hour while awake and especially during a long-haul flight or road trip.
  • Wear knee-high compression stockings. These minimize leg pain and swelling by at least 50% if you wear them daily.
  • Avoid activities that may cause a serious injury.
  • Stay hydrated at all times, and especially during travel.

What treatments are available for people with deep vein thrombosis?

Some people with a DVT may need to be treated in the hospital. Others may be able to have outpatient treatment.

Treatments include medications called anticoagulants (blood thinners), compression stockings and elevating your affected leg(s) at different times throughout the day. In a minority of cases, when the DVT is extensive, invasive treatments (catheter-based procedures) may be required.

The main goals of treatment are to:

  • Keep the clot from getting bigger and involving other veins.
  • Prevent the clot from breaking off in your vein and moving to your lungs.
  • Lessen the risk of another blood clot.
  • Prevent long-term complications from the blood clot (like chronic venous insufficiency).

Important information about medications

  • Take your medications exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • Have blood tests your provider requests and keep all scheduled laboratory appointments.
  • Don’t stop or start taking any medication (including medications and supplements you take without a prescription) without asking your provider.
  • Talk to your provider about your diet. You may need to make changes, depending on the medication you take.

DVT treatments

Anticoagulants (blood thinners)

This type of medication makes it harder for your blood to clot. Anticoagulants also stop clots from getting bigger and prevent blood clots from moving. Anticoagulants don’t destroy or “melt” blood clots. Your body may naturally dissolve a clot, but sometimes clots don’t completely disappear. When they don’t, they usually shrink and become little “scars” inside your veins. Sometimes these “old” clots may result in leg swelling, but oftentimes they don’t cause symptoms.

There are different types of anticoagulants: warfarin, heparin and oral Xa inhibitors. Your doctor will talk to you about the best type of medication for you.

If you need to take an anticoagulant, you may have to take it for only a few months (usually three to six months) or you might take it indefinitely. Your treatment time may be different depending on the specific situations of each individual, including if:

  • You’ve had clots before.
  • You’re getting treatment for another illness, like cancer or an autoimmune disease (you may need to take an anticoagulant as long as your risk of a clot is higher.).

Bleeding is the most common side effect of anticoagulants. You should call your doctor right away if you notice that you bruise or bleed easily while taking this medication.

Compression Stockings

You‘ll probably need to wear graded elastic compression stockings to either improve or completely get rid of leg swelling. Damage to the small valves inside your veins often causes this swelling. You may also have swelling because the DVT is blocking blood flow in your vein. You wear most compression stockings just below your knee. These stockings are tight at the ankle and become looser as they go away from your ankle. This causes gentle pressure (compression) on your leg. Some people need to wear these for two years or more. Several clinical studies have shown that compression stockings improve the symptoms of leg pain and swelling by at least 50% as long as they’re worn daily from morning to evening (they don’t have to be worn overnight).

After surgery, your providers may put compression devices on your calves to put pressure on them. These machines squeeze and release the fabric-covered devices around your calves while you’re lying in bed. These devices help prevent a DVT if you’re in the hospital, but they aren’t prescribed outside of the hospital. In addition, unlike compression stockings that you can wear safely when a leg DVT is present, you shouldn’t use these devices for DVT prevention if you have a DVT.

DVT Treatment Procedures

When you can’t take medications to thin your blood or you have blood clots while taking blood thinners without missing doses, a surgeon may have to do a procedure to put in an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. Your surgeon inserts the IVC filter through a catheter into a large vein in your groin or neck, and then into your vena cava (the largest vein in your body). If blood clots in the veins of your legs break off and travel, the IVC filter is designed to prevent large blood clots (emboli) from reaching your lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism. While an IVC filter helps prevent a pulmonary embolism, it doesn’t keep more blood clots from forming in your veins.

How can I reduce my risk?

After you have a DVT, you’ll need to reduce your risk of future DVT/PE clots by:

  • Taking your medications exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • Keeping your follow-up appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. These tell your provider how well your treatment is working.
  • Making lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier foods, being more active and avoiding tobacco products.

If you’ve never had a DVT, but have an increased risk of developing one, be sure to:

  • Exercise your calf muscles if you need to sit still for a long time. Stand up and walk at least every half hour if you’re on a long flight. Or get out of the car every hour if you’re on a long road trip.
  • Get out of bed and move around as soon as you can after you’re sick or have surgery. The sooner you move around, the less chance you have of developing a DVT.
  • Take medications or use compression stockings after surgery (if your provider prescribes them) to reduce your risk of a clot.
  • Follow up with your provider as directed and follow their recommendations to reduce your risk of a clot.

What can I expect if I have deep vein thrombosis?

A DVT can take several months to a year to come apart, so you’ll need to keep taking blood thinner medicines as instructed and keep wearing compression stockings until your provider tells you to stop. You may need blood tests to make sure you’re getting the right dose of blood thinners. Your provider may want to do more ultrasounds later to find out if your blood clot is still in the same place, improving or getting larger.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Tell your healthcare provider if your symptoms aren’t getting better. You should also tell them if you’re bruising too easily or have heavy periods.

When should I go to the ER?

You should get emergency care if the blood thinners you’re taking make you bleed too much, or cause problems like bright red blood in vomit or poop.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

  • How long will I need to take blood thinners?
  • When can I travel again?
  • How often do I need follow-up appointments?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

If you have a deep vein thrombosis, you’re not alone. Every year, at least 1 million Americans get one. Several treatments can help, and your healthcare provider can customize your care to your situation. If they prescribe blood thinners, be sure to keep up with all of your follow-up appointments so you know you’re getting the correct dose.