Western Baptist Hospital's Diagnostic Imaging department provides a full range of diagnostic and minimally-invasive interventional procedures to patients with vascular disease. Our services include:

Non-Invasive Vascular Studies

Non-invasive vascular studies are tests to help your doctor diagnose problems in the arteries and veins in your legs, arms and neck. The tests are called non-invasive, because no dyes, x-rays or needles are used to perform them. They are performed in Ultrasound area of Western Baptist Hospital's Diagnostic Imaging department.

Non-invasive diagnostic tests for patients with venous disease (problems in the veins, such as varicose veins and thrombophlebitis or blood clots) include:

• Venous Duplex Imaging and Doppler Ultrasonic Signal with Spectral Analysis and/or Color Flow Velocity Mapping or Imaging
  This test uses ultrasound to create a two-dimensional picture of your veins and is helpful in diagnosing Many different kinds of venous disease, including weak valves and blood clots. It can also be used to measure the size of a vein being used in bypass surgery.

Non-invasive diagnostic tests available for artery disease include:

• Arterial Blood Pressures, Waveforms and Exercise Test
  This test is used to find the location and extent of blockages occurring in the arteries of the legs. The test uses an ultrasound stethoscope or Doppler to record blood flow at different points along your leg. Blood pressure readings are also taken in your legs and arms before and after walking on a treadmill.
• Doppler Ultrasound
  Doppler ultrasound uses an ultrasound stethoscope to analyze the sound of blood flowing through your arteries to your brain. It is used to diagnose blockages in the carotid arteries that could lead to a stroke.
• Duplex Scanning
  Duplex scanning uses ultrasound to create a picture of the arteries in your legs or the arteries leading to your brain. It can be used to locate blockages and measure the size of an artery and how well blood flows through it.
• Vasculogenic Impotency Testing
  This exam uses ultrasound to diagnose vascular disorders as a cause of impotence or sterility in men.

Invasive Vascular Studies

Invasive vascular studies are offered in Western Baptist's Hospital's Interventional Radiology area. These procedures are called invasive, because they use a special dye or contrast medium to make pictures of the vascular system. Invasive vascular studies offered include:

• Arteriograms
  Arteriograms provide your doctor with a road map of arteries and pinpoint the location of abnormalities or blockages. An arteriogram may include imaging of the cerebral arteries in the brain, the carotid arteries in the neck, the aorta, the pulmonary arteries in the lungs, the renal arteries in the kidneys and arteries in the legs and arms.
• Venograms
  Venograms provide your doctor with a road map of the veins and pinpoint the location of abnormalities such as blood clots.

Minimally-Invasive Interventions for the Treatment of Vascular Disease

In addition to diagnostic tests, Western Baptist Hospital's Diagnostic Imaging department offers special interventional procedures to treat various types of vascular problems. The hospital's Interventional Radiology area is equipped with digital fluoroscopy and intravascular ultrasound which allow physicians to view your vascular system on TV monitors during procedures. Interventions available include:

• Thrombolitic Therapy
  Thrombolitic therapy involves use of various clot-busting agents such as TPA and urokinase, to destroy blood clots which are blocking the flow of blood in an artery or vein.
• Vena Cava Filter Insertion
  This procedure is used to keep blood clots in the legs or arms from breaking off, going to the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism.
• Endovascular Procedures
  Endovascular procedures are minimally-invasive procedures used to repair diseased arteries from the inside, rather than the outside. Because they don't require large surgical incisions, patients recover much more quickly and return to their normal activities in a matter of days rather than weeks. Endovascular procedures which are used to repair blocked arteries in the legs include angioplasty and stent grafting.
  Angioplasty is used to open arteries in the legs that have been narrowed by plaque and offers an alternative to by-pass procedures where the leg is opened and synthetic graft is stitched around the blockage. During angioplasty, a small balloon is inflated inside the blocked artery. The balloon squeezes the plaque against the artery wall and restores blood flow.
  Stent grafting may be done when an angioplasty doesn't completely restore the blood flow in the diseased artery. Stents are conduits made of special materials which are permanently inserted into the artery to hold it open.

Registering for Your Vascular Test or Procedure

Western Baptist Hospital's Express Check program makes registering for outpatient tests and procedures fast and easy. To take advantage of the program, follow these simple steps:

1. As soon as your physician schedules you for vascular tests or procedures, call our pre-registration area at (270) 575-2979. Pre-registration clerks are available 24 hours a day seven days a week to take your phone call. Even if you are scheduled for a test or procedure the same day, it is still to your advantage to call ahead to begin the registration process.
2. Be ready to provide the registration clerk with the following information:
   • your medical record number, if you are familiar with it and you have registered at Western Baptist before;
   • your date of birth;
   • your social security number;
   • your home address;
   • the specific tests or procedures the physician has ordered; and
   • your insurance card.
3. If the clerk is able to complete your paperwork in this phone call, he or she will tell you that you are eligible for Express Check.
4. When you prepare to come to the hospital, make sure you bring your physician orders and your insurance card with you.
5. When you arrive at Western Baptist, proceed directly to the Express Check receptionist, who will copy your insurance card, have you sign a consent form and send you to Diagnostic Imaging.

You may also pre-register online by clicking here.

If you do not take advantage of the Express Check program, plan to arrive at the hospital 30 minutes before your scheduled exam or procedure time to complete the registration process.

For More Information

For more information about Western Baptist Hospital's Interventional Radiology Services, call the Diagnostic Imaging Department at (270) 575-2600.

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