Iowa Heart Center Vascular Testing
Iowa Heart Center offers a variety of vascular testing services for your patients, provided in a convenient clinic location near you. Our facilities are fully accredited, and are staff are specifically trained in the diagnosis of vascular disease.
Introduction
Iowa Heart Center’s vascular laboratory is designed to provide accurate and timely diagnostic information for the detection and management of vascular diseases. the laboratory also provides patient education regarding vascular disease, treatment and expected outcomes.
The Center’s vascular studies are painless, non-invasive and risk-free. Test results provide the physiologic and anatomic information needed to make an accurate diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment program.
Locations / accreditation
Iowa Heart Center provides vascular testing at its offices in Des Moines, Ames and Fort Dodge. Vascular screening (patient self-pay) services are also offered in Des Moines and Ames. CT services are offered in West Des Moines (click here to view a brochure).
The laboratory is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories, a distinction it has held since 1993.
Reporting
Physician reports are easy to understand. abnormal reports are communicated immediately to the referring physician.
Available tests
Upper extremity arterial evaluation
- CT
- segmental pressures and waveforms
- duplex ultrasound
- digital PPG
- reynaud’s testing
Lower extremity arterial evaluation
- CT
- segmental pressures and waveforms
- exercise testing
- duplex ultrasound
- digital PPG
Graft evaluation
- CT
- duplex ultrasound
- hemodialysis
- peripheral bypass
Upper extremity venous evaluation
- CT
- duplex ultrasound
- detection of superficial or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- includes neck and arm veins
- vein mapping
Lower extremity venous evaluation
- CT
- duplex ultrasound
- detection of superficial or deep vein thrombosis
- vein mapping
- air plethysmography (APG)
- venous reflux testing (chronic venous insufficiency)
Carotid and vertebral evaluation
Abdominal vascular evaluations
- CT
- duplex ultrasound
- aorta and iliac evaluation for aneurysm
- mesenteric vessel evaluation for stenosis (requires 12-hour fast)
- renal artery evaluation for stenosis
- inferior vena cava and iliac vein evaluation for thrombosis
Clinical indications
Arterial
- claudication
- rest pain
- gangrene
- reynaud’s
- ischemic leg or foot ulcerations
- diabetic foot evaluation
- peripheral aneurysms
- extremity bypass graft surveillance
- assessment of hemodialysis access graft
- assessment of extremity circulation before and after hemodialysis graft placement
Venous
- leg swelling/pain
- deep vein thrombosis
- superficial thrombophlebitis
- varicose veins
- post phlebitic syndrome
- venous ulcerations
- venous stasis changes
- vein mapping for coronary or peripheral arterial reconstruction
Carotid
- transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- cerebrovascular accidents
- amarousis fugax
- carotid bruit
- carotid stenosis
- follow-up after carotid endarterectomy
- vertebral basilar insufficiency
- subclavian steal syndrome
Abdominal
- abdominal aortic aneurysm
- aorto-iliac occlusive disease
- renovascular hypertension
- renal insufficiency
- post prandial pain in the face of weight loss
- iliac or caval thrombosis
- renal, mesenteric or iliac stenosis surveillance
Peripheral arterial studies
Doppler ultrasound analysis and segmental blood pressure evaluation provides physiological data to quantify the severity of disease. Duplex ultrasound allows for accurate assessment of arterial flow, flow-reducing plaque and dilated (aneurismal) segments.
Duplex testing is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of peripheral bypass and hemodialysis access grafts, which allows for identification of graft stenosis prior to occlusion and, in selected cases, may lead to prophylactic intervention.
Peripheral venous studies
Duplex ultrasonography is an effective way to evaluate the deep and superficial venous system for thrombosis.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can be diagnosed with a very high rate of accuracy, and serial examinations allow for assessment of thrombus propagation. Testing results are especially useful when patients should not receive anticoagulation therapy unless absolutely necessary (in the case of calf vein thrombosis, for example).
Air plethysmography (APG) can be used for the evaluation of chronic venous insufficiency with a high degree of accuracy, and also quantifies the amount of reflux. Valvular incompetence may lead to varicose veins, hyperpigmentation of the skin and, ultimately, venous ulceration. APG can identify the etiology of this condition, allowing the clinician to direct treatment appropriately.
Carotid artery studies
Duplex ultrasound technology provides a noninvasive, highly accurate and safe method to evaluate the extracranial carotid arteries for plaque morphology and degree of stenosis. The accuracy rate is high enough that, in selected cases, angiography may be avoided.
Abdominal vascular studies
Ultrasonography can be used to assess several vascular structures in the abdomen. The aorta and iliac arteries can be evaluated for the presence of aneurysms, and followed serially to evaluate diameter change in a cost-effective manner. Stenosis of the renal arteries, causing renovascular hypertension or renal insufficiency, can be detected. Stenosis of the mesenteric arteries, causing post prandial pain and weight loss, can be detected. Evaluation of the inferior vena cava, iliac, hepatic and portal veins can be performed to assess flow and level of obstruction.
