Vascular Studies & Non-Invasive Vascular Imaging in Florida
Your heart doesn’t work alone. The arteries and veins that carry blood to and from your heart, brain, legs, and vital organs are just as important to your long-term health — and just as vulnerable to disease. Peripheral artery disease, carotid stenosis, aortic aneurysms, and deep vein thrombosis can all develop silently for years before they cause a catastrophic event. Vascular studies are the non-invasive way we find these problems early — using ultrasound and pressure measurements to see inside your blood vessels without a single incision.
What Are Vascular Studies?
Vascular studies is an umbrella term for a range of non-invasive diagnostic tests that evaluate the structure and blood flow of your arteries and veins. They use high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound/Doppler technology) to create images and measure flow velocity — giving your cardiologist precise information about where circulation is impaired, how significantly, and what the most appropriate treatment approach is.
All vascular studies at FHVI are painless, involve no radiation (unlike CT angiography), and require no needles or contrast dye. Most take 30–60 minutes and can be performed at any of our nine Florida clinic locations.
Vascular Studies We Perform
Carotid Duplex Ultrasound
The carotid arteries run on either side of your neck and are the primary blood supply to your brain. Plaque buildup in these arteries (carotid stenosis) dramatically increases stroke risk — and most patients have no symptoms until a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke) occurs.
A carotid duplex ultrasound uses both standard ultrasound (to image the artery walls) and Doppler technology (to measure blood flow velocity through the artery). Areas of narrowing cause turbulent, high-velocity flow that the Doppler detects precisely. The degree of stenosis guides treatment decisions: from medication management for mild disease to surgical endarterectomy for severe blockages.
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
The ABI is a simple, highly accurate screening test for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Blood pressure is measured at your ankle and your arm simultaneously. Normally, ankle pressure should be equal to or slightly higher than arm pressure. A lower ankle pressure indicates that arterial blockages are restricting blood flow to your legs. The ABI ratio quantifies the severity of disease and helps your cardiologist determine whether medical treatment, lifestyle modification, or a vascular procedure is needed.
Peripheral Arterial Duplex Study (Lower Extremity Arterial)
For patients with leg pain when walking (claudication), non-healing leg wounds, or numbness and coldness in the feet, this detailed ultrasound maps the blood flow through the arteries of your legs — from the aorta to the foot arteries. It identifies the exact location and severity of blockages, helping your vascular specialist plan targeted treatment.
Venous Duplex Ultrasound (Deep Vein Thrombosis Study)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg — requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent the clot from travelling to the lungs (pulmonary embolism). A venous duplex ultrasound is the gold-standard non-invasive test for DVT. The veins are compressed with the ultrasound probe — a normal vein collapses easily, while a vein with a clot does not. This test can be performed urgently at any FHVI location for patients with sudden leg swelling, redness, or calf pain.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dangerous enlargement of the aorta — the main artery that runs through your abdomen — that can rupture without warning. Risk factors include being male, over 65, a smoker, or having a family history of aneurysm. An abdominal aortic ultrasound screening takes about 15–20 minutes, requires no preparation, and is the standard method for detecting AAA before rupture. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a one-time AAA screening for men aged 65–75 who have ever smoked.
Renal Artery Duplex Study
Narrowing of the arteries supplying the kidneys (renal artery stenosis) can cause resistant hypertension — high blood pressure that doesn’t respond adequately to medications. A renal artery duplex ultrasound identifies stenosis and helps determine whether the cause of your high blood pressure is vascular rather than primary.
Mesenteric Artery Duplex Study
The mesenteric arteries supply blood to your intestines. Stenosis in these arteries can cause postprandial angina — severe abdominal pain after eating — leading many patients to avoid food and lose significant weight before the diagnosis is made. A mesenteric duplex study identifies this often-missed cause of chronic abdominal pain.
Who Should Have Vascular Studies?
Talk to your FHVI cardiologist about vascular screening if you:
- Have leg pain, cramping, or fatigue that comes on with walking and goes away with rest (claudication)
- Have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of smoking
- Have had a prior stroke, TIA, or are at high risk for stroke
- Have a first-degree family member with an aortic aneurysm
- Are a male over 65 with any smoking history
- Have non-healing wounds or ulcers on your legs or feet
- Have been told your blood pressure is very difficult to control
- Experience sudden leg swelling, redness, or calf pain (possible DVT — call us urgently)
Frequently Asked Questions: Vascular Studies & Imaging
A: Preparation varies by the study. For an abdominal aortic or mesenteric artery ultrasound, you’ll be asked to fast for 4–8 hours beforehand (food and gas in the abdomen can obscure the view). For carotid, peripheral arterial, and venous studies, no special preparation is needed. Our scheduling team will give you specific instructions when you book your appointment.
A: Not at all. Ultrasound is painless and non-invasive. A gel is applied to your skin to help the probe make contact, and the transducer is moved gently over the area being studied. You won’t feel anything during the examination. For venous studies, the probe applies light compression to the veins — some patients with active DVT or inflammation may feel mild tenderness at the point of compression.
A: No — that’s a classic symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD) called intermittent claudication. It occurs when narrowed leg arteries can’t supply enough blood flow to meet the muscles’ demands during exercise. At rest, the demand drops and the pain resolves. PAD is a significant cardiovascular risk factor: patients with PAD are 4 times more likely to have a heart attack and 3 times more likely to have a stroke than people without it. Please don’t dismiss this symptom — call us to be evaluated.
A: We treat suspected DVT as urgent. Call us at (352) 572-7730 and tell our team you may have a DVT — describe your symptoms (leg swelling, redness, warmth, calf pain). We will prioritize your appointment on the same day or next morning. An untreated DVT can become a pulmonary embolism, which is life-threatening.
A: Carotid stenosis means the carotid arteries in your neck — which supply blood to your brain — have significant plaque buildup. Mild-to-moderate stenosis is typically managed with medications (statins, antiplatelets) and lifestyle modifications, combined with close monitoring. Severe stenosis (70%+), particularly in patients who have had symptoms (TIA or stroke), may warrant a surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy to remove the plaque and restore normal blood flow. Your FHVI vascular specialist will review your results in full and recommend the most appropriate management plan.
A: Not necessarily. Most small aneurysms (under 5.5 cm in diameter) are managed with careful surveillance — repeat ultrasound every 6–12 months to monitor growth — combined with blood pressure control and smoking cessation. Surgery is typically recommended when the aneurysm reaches 5.5 cm or larger, grows rapidly, or causes symptoms. Your FHVI vascular specialist will discuss your specific aneurysm size, growth rate, and surgical risk to give you a clear, individualized recommendation.
A: They’re closely related but not identical. Both involve narrowing and blockage of arteries caused by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) — so the risk factors are the same: smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history. A patient with significant peripheral artery disease has a substantially higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even if their coronary arteries haven’t yet shown symptoms. That’s why FHVI evaluates both cardiovascular and vascular health together — they’re two parts of the same systemic disease process.
Book Your Cardiac Catheterization Consultation — Call (352) 572-7730