Page Contents
Diagnostic tests for heart diseases
- Carotid Ultrasound for diagnosing narrowing of the carotid arteries
- Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound: How is it peformed?
- How does Implantable Loop Recorder monitor heart rhythm?
- Doppler Ultrasound: for detecting abnormal blood flow
- Tilt table test: Why is this test performed?
- How Cardiac MRI help to diagnose heart problems
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Stress Echocardiography or stress echo or stress test
- Cardiac PET Scan: Positron Emission Tomography
- Nuclear Ventriculography: imaging technique for the Heart Chambers
- Nuclear Stress Test OR Myocardial Perfusion Scan
- How does Intravascular Ultrasound quantify Plaque?
Heart Diseases
- How serious is Valvular Heart Disease? Let us understand
- Growing concerns of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in India
- Heart Failure: a Chronic and Life-threatening Condition
- How do artery blockages lead to Heart Attack?
- Angina: a feeling of squeezing and chest pain
- Venous blood clots
- Varicose Veins
- Valve Disease
- Raynaud’s Phenomenon
- Pulmonary Stenosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Do you know how serious is Congenital Heart Disease?
Carotid ultrasound is a non – invasive diagnostic test used to evaluate the carotid arteries in the neck. It helps to diagnose the narrowing of the carotid arteries (carotid artery stenosis) as this increases the risk of getting a stroke. Assessing atherosclerotic plaques and detecting hematomas are the other reasons for which this test is performed.
Doctors generally recommend this test to patients with transient ischemic attacks, certain types of stroke, or other conditions that increase the risk of stroke.
How is Carotid Ultrasound performed?
The patient is asked to lie on the examination table with the head slightly turned away from the side being examined. The technician applies clear water-based gel to the area being studied. It is done to help the sound waves reach the arteries and to allow the transducer (probe) to be in close contact with the skin. (Image credit)
The transducer is then moved against different areas on the neck. There is generally no discomfort from pressure as the transducer moves against the area being examined. The patient may be asked to rotate or tilt the head to get the views of the artery from different perspectives.
The sound waves are reflected from the artery walls, and blood cells get detected by the transducer. These waves are then converted into pictures by using a computer. Images of the carotid arteries and the blood flowing through them are then recorded and reviewed by a cardiologist. After completing the imaging, the gel is wiped off from the skin.
Are there any risks involved in it? :
Carotid ultrasound is a safe and painless procedure that has no risks associated with it.
FAQs: Carotid Ultrasound
What are preparations required from the patient? The patient is advised to wear comfortable clothing to the test. A loose-fitting, open-necked shirt or blouse is generally recommended. He/she is asked to remove all jewelry and metal objects from the area being examined.
How long does it take? It takes around 30 to 45 minutes to get a Carotid ultrasound done.
Who performs it? It is generally performed by an ultrasound technician or a radiologic technologist in the vascular lab or radiology department.
How much does it cost? It costs around Rs. 900 to 2K to get a carotid ultrasound done in India.
When can I go home after the procedure? The patient can go home and resume normal activities immediately after the test.
References:
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