Renal Arteries Vascular Ultrasound

What is a vascular ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a non-invasive test that helps your doctor diagnose and treat your medical problem. By using very high frequency sound waves the ultrasound machine can form images of the inside of your body. For vascular ultrasound this involves creating images of the blood vessels within your body.

Why would I need a vascular ultrasound of the renal arteries?

Your doctor may ask for you to have a vascular ultrasound of your renal arteries because if you have high blood pressure that cannot be controlled.

Is there any preparation I need to undertake before my vascular ultrasound?

There is no preparation necessary for your vascular ultrasound - you just need to turn up to your appointment.

What clothes do I need to remove?

For a vascular ultrasound of the renal arteries you will need to lift your shirt and lower your trousers/skirt and underwear so that we can get easy access to your abdomen between your ribs and your hips.

What are you looking for during the vascular ultrasound of the renal arteries?

When we undertake a vascular ultrasound of your renal arteries, your doctor will want to know whether or not any of the arteries that supply your kidneys, called the renal arteries, are significantly narrowed. They will also be interested to know about the blood flow within the kidney itself.

What happens during the scan?

We will ask you to lie flat on the bed. Because the renal arteries can be deep it may be necessary for the sonographer to press quite firmly on your abdomen. During the scan you will be asked to lie on one side and then the other. Periodically the sonographer will need to measure the blood flow in the kidneys, they will ask you to hold your breath briefly when they do this.

How long will the vascular ultrasound take?

A vascular ultrasound of the renal arteries takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to perform.