Testing in the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory

Abstract

The circulatory system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. The heart is the pumping organ that circulates blood through the vessels. There are 3 major types of blood vessels: arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the organs and limbs; veins, which return blood from the organs and the limbs to the heart to be resupplied with oxygen by the lungs; and the lymphatics, which return fluid from the skin and tissues to the veins. Disorders of the blood vessels are common, and there are many different vascular disorders (Table 1). After a doctor’s physical examination, testing in the vascular laboratory is often the first step in diagnosing vascular disease. View this table: TABLE 1. Common Disorders of Blood Vessels The most common disorder of the arteries is atherosclerosis, or clogging of the arteries with cholesterol-rich plaque, and it can occur in almost any artery of the body. The symptoms of atherosclerosis depend on the location of the blocked arteries. Aneurysm, or severe enlargement of a blood vessel, is another common disorder of arteries. The most common location for an aneurysm is the abdominal portion of the aorta. This abnormality is known as abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aorta is the largest artery that delivers blood from the heart to the rest of the body through its branches. There are also many disorders of the veins. Deep vein thrombosis is a serious disorder that usually requires immediate treatment. Deep vein thrombosis most frequently occurs in the veins of the legs, but it also can develop in the veins of the arms or the abdomen. Varicose veins are bulging veins that appear on the legs, may be unsightly, and may cause discomfort. Venous insufficiency is the term used to describe damaged veins that allow backward flow of blood down the …