 Saint Joseph Medical Center proudly features expertly qualified staff and state-of-the-art technology to provide comprehensive, accurate noninvasive vascular diagnostic procedures. The Providence Saint Joseph Vascular Lab has earned the significant distinction of accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL), which utilizes a rigorous peer review process to validate high quality testing — the only center to earn such distinction in the San Fernando Valley region.
CEREBROVASCULAR DUPLEX SCAN
A noninvasive cerebrovascular duplex scan can determine the severity of impaired circulation to the brain and thereby identify those who are at risk for stroke or have experienced a transient or extended
neurological deficit. The examination may also be used to follow the progression of previously identified carotid disease. After repair of blocked cerebrovascular arteries, patients benefit from regular evaluation to monitor for recurrence of disease. Principal clinical indications for noninvasive cerebrovascular testing include:
- Partial or total paralysis, weakness or numbness of one side of the body
- Amaurosis fugax, ( a visual disturbance with temporary loss of vision in one eye)
- TIA (transient ischemic attack)
- Syncope (brief loss of consciousness with or without lightheadedness)
- Abnormality of gait
- Impaired coordination
- Loss of sensation (numbness or tingling)
- Aphasia (the loss of the ability to speak or understand written or oral communication)
- Bruit (abnormal sound heard under the jaw)
- Injury to carotid artery
ARTERIAL STUDIES OF THE EXTREMITY
A peripheral arterial study is used to document the presence of disease, determine its functional severity, localize the site of involvement, define the lesion as a as a stenosis (narrowing) or occlusion (complete blockage), measure its length and provide baseline information for future comparisons. When neuro- musculoskeletal symptoms are present the study will help to determine how much arterial insufficiency contributes to the patients symptoms. Principal clinical indications for peripheral arterial studies include:
- Claudication – cramping muscular pain induced by exercise and relieved by resting briefly
- Painful toes or feet at rest or at night
- Ulcers
- Gangrene (tissue break down or death)
- Aneurysm of artery of the upper extremity
- Aneurysm of artery of the lower extremity
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Arterial embolism and thrombosis
- Arteritis (inflammation of the lining of the arteries)
- Coldness or discoloration of the limb
- Injury to extremity blood vessels
VENOUS STUDIES OF THE EXTREMITY
Noninvasive testing allows diagnosis and evaluation of deep and superficial venous thrombosis and
valvular insufficiency. Principal clinical indications for venous studies include:
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the heart and lung)
- Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis (inflammation of a vein with a blood clot)
- Varicose veins with ulcer and inflammation
- Post thrombotic syndrome
- Erythema (redness of the skin)
- Ulcer of lower limb
- Pain in the limb
- Swelling of the limb
- Edema (swelling from excessive accumulation of fluid)
- Respiratory abnormality
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood
- Dyspnea (difficult of labored respiration)
- Injury to blood vessel of upper extremity
- Injury to blood vessel of lower extremity
- Discoloration of skin at the ankles
- Eczema of the ankle skin
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