Vascular ultrasound

Whereas before 1970, the diagnosis of arterial and venous disease was primarily based on examination and arteriography or venography, the recent availability of duplex ultrasound scan has revolutionized noninvasive testing and, in many cases, has replaced invasive techniques. In many cases, the Duplex Color Flow Scan has replaced venogram in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis and arteriogram in the evaluation of carotid disease. In addition to its use in the preoperative evaluation of arterial disease, vascular ultrasound increasingly is used intraoperatively to evaluate anastomotic patency. Duplex ultrasound may be used as a preoperative map of the venous anatomy in patients undergoing bypass of access procedures.