Carotid Artery Disease Diagnosis

Carotid Artery disease is a condition that affects the blood vessels that transport blood to your brain. This happened when fatty acids and deposits clog these vessels thereby causing blockage.

There are various ways to diagnose Carotid Artery disease. This diagnosis is done through tests by your board certified vascular surgeon. The tests are as follows:

 

Carotid artery duplex scan

This is a test that is done to determine the flow of the carotid arteries. A transducer is an equipment used to probe and send ultrasonic sound waves. This equipment is like a microphone where it is placed on different angles of the artery to determine the functioning of it. The sound waves makes it to the vessels penetrating through the skin and tissues.

An amplifier is connected to the transducer where the health care provider or doctor can hear from. Lack of sound may mean that the vessels are blocked.

Listening to the carotid arteries

Here, a stethoscope is placed on the carotid artery. Sounds known as bruit are listened for to determine the blockage of the vessels. When blood passes through a narrow artery, sound is made. This sound can be a signal of atherosclerosis but if a vessel has this disease, no sound will be made.
Note that bruit sound is pronounced as “brew-ee”.

MRA aka MR Angiography

MRI technology is used here, in conjunction with contrast dye which enhances sighting of the vessel. The blood vessels show on the MRI machine due to the contrast dye applied. The doctor can view and assess the vessels clearly.

CTA or CT Angiography

An X-ray machine and a computer are used in this test. In addition, contrast dye is also employed to enable the vessels be visible for the doctor on the monitor. The CTA machine helps show the vessels and the blocked vessel can easily be noted.
Angiography

This particular test is used to view the blockage of the carotid artery. Contrast dye is injected for clarity of the vessels while the images of the X-ray are taken. The contrast dye shows the flow and shape of the blood.

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