The Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Screening (CVS) scan is a comprehensive ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries (big arteries in the neck) and the femoral arteries (in the legs). Using these images and data on file about vascular risk, predictions can be made on the risk of heart attacks and stroke for the next 10 years of your life. This technology provides more accurate assessments than those obtained from the use of the standard risk factor tests such as measuring blood pressure and cholesterol.

Screening is performed by highly skilled ultrasonographers who work alongside doctors to interpret the results. This helps the physician to advise the patient on lifestyle changes and recommend preventative treatment if necessary.

The reason we scan the carotid and femoral arteries is that it gives us detailed, visual information, which most accurately reflects the state of the whole cardiovascular system.

It can measure the thickness of the wall of the arteries and show deposits of cholesterol in them, called plaques, many years before they have a chance to cause problems. Analysing these scans for the presence, number and size of plaques can identify twice as many people at high risk than conventional tests.

This means that we can help more people take action to prevent health problems in the future.

CVS Scan – £300

For more information please call 0207 323 9477 or email dawnbond@spitfireuk.net

In the presence of varicose veins, obstruction or damage to the deep veins, an ultrasound scan of the leg is used to identify the blockages or backward flow of blood before medical treatment.

Information for doctors
Duplex scanning with colour flow imaging can detect the presence and anatomic extent of obstruction and reflux. It can demonstrate the variable anatomy of the popliteal fossa and determine the sites of incompetent perforating veins.

Indications
- To determine the sites of deep to superficial reflux. This is essential in patients with recurrent varicose veins.
- To exclude significant reflux or occlusion of deep veins when suspected in patients who are candidates for varicose vein surgery.
- To establish the diagnosis of post thrombotic syndrome
- Preoperative marking of the sapheno-popliteal junction
- Preoperative marking of incompetent perforating veins

Aneurysms can form in any section of the aorta, but they are most common in the belly area which is called an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA).

Most aortic aneurysms don’t cause symptoms. Some people who do have symptoms complain of belly, chest, or back pain and discomfort. In the worst case, an aneurysm can burst, or rupture. This causes severe pain and bleeding and is often fatal.

Once an aneurysm is identified the procedure can be repeated regularly so as to monitor any increase in its size thus giving ample warning should it reach a size where an operation might be needed. When the aneurysm is tender or when the diameter is 5.5 cm or more, the risk of rupture is high and intervention is likely.

In normal men over the age of 60-65, screening with ultrasound is a well proven, effective method of preventing death from AAA.

The sooner such a condition can be identified and managed, the better the chance of avoiding the complication of sudden rupture.

AAA Scan – £150

For more information please call our Clinical Manager Dawn Bond on 0207 323 9477 or email dawnbond@spitfireuk.net

Replacing, or grafting of arteries is a surgical treatment for arterial disease. Grafts need to be monitored to identify any potential failures as a result of narrowing (stenosis).

Information for doctors
Patients with infrainguinal bypass grafts should have routine duplex scanning at six weeks, three weeks and six months and then six monthly to identify the development of graft stenoses predisposing to thrombus and occulsion. Stenoses occur in approximately 25% of grafts at two years. Identification of the problem with prompt balloon dilation or surgical intervention can prevent graft occlusion and limb loss.

Indications
- The presence of a functioning infrainguinal bypass graft.

You may be referred for this scan by a doctor if they suspect a blood clot in the vein.

Information for doctors
Duplex scanning with colour flow imaging provides instant visualisation of the veins and blood flow. It can detect the presence of both recent and old thrombi. In symptomatic patients the accuracy of duplex is 96-100% for iliac, femoral and popliteal thrombi and 90% for calf thrombi.

Indications
- Symptoms and / or signs suggestive of acute deep venous thrombosis.
- To monitor calf thrombi in ambulant patients not on treatment.
- Suspected pulmonary embolism in the presence of low ventilation – perfusion scan.
- Superficial thrombophlebitis. Thrombi extend from superficial to the deep veins in 15% of patients.

This scan checks the lower legs for general arterial health including the build up of plaques or thickening of the arterial wall, for people who have been identified as having generalised arterial problems.

Information for doctors
Duplex scanning provides images of the arterial tree and blood velocities from the aorta to calf vessels. In the majority of patients this permits a decision to be made on management, medical, angioplasty or surgery without the need for angiography. Duplex scanning can identify lesions that are suitable for angioplasty.

Indications- Intermittent claudication
- Embolic phenomena
- Subcritical ischaemia

Already mentioned under the AAA scan, this ultrasound scan identifies and monitors aneurysms which can form in any section of the aorta, most commonly in the belly area, an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). If you have already been diagnosed with an aneurysm this scan can be used to monitor its progression and aid medical management.

Information for doctors
Duplex scanning with colour flow imaging provides images of the infrarenal aorta and other peripheral arteries. It provides a means of detecting the presence and size of an aneurysm. In addition it determines the size of a thrombus in the lumen. Repeated examinations at four monthly intervals monitor progression and assess risk.

Indications
- Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms
- Presence of a palpable pulsatile intraabdominal mass
- Peripheral arterial aneurysm

The arteries in the neck (carotids) are scanned to check blood flow and for the presence of cholesterol plaques. This scan is often used after transient ischaemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke).

Information for doctors

This is an ultrasound scan that can detect the presence of carotid bifurcation disease and determine its severity (% diameter stenosis). In addition it can determine the patency and direction of flow in the vertebral arteries (subclavian steel).

Indications

- Patients with coronary or peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, hypertension or hyperlipidaemia for the presence of asymptomatic carotid stenosis.

- The presence of a cervical bruit or screening of asymptomatic individuals (to identify the presence of carotid bifurcation disease and to detect progression of a known internal carotid stenosis).

- Carotid territory symptoms: Transient monocular blindness, hemispheric sensory or motor TIA’s or non-disabling stroke.

- Symptoms suggestive of vertebrobasilar insufficiency: Dizziness, vertigo, diplopia or drop attacks.