Vascular Diagnostics

Reliable testing for your arteries and veins

When it comes to the vascular lifelines of our bodies – arteries and veins – only the latest high-quality technology will do for speedy, accurate and reliable diagnostics. Our state-of-the-art laboratory specializes in comprehensives assessment using non-invasive methods to detect and manage disorders, diseases and conditions of the arteries, veins and heart.

The information obtained through vascular tests helps in diagnosis of a wide range of conditions and diseases related to cardiovascular system, heart and blood vessels; including early detection of genetic or acquired conditions to commence treatment as soon as possible. Our department is led by a team of highly experienced vascular technicians and specialists.  

The Kuwait Hospital Difference

Our aim is to serve patients through advanced, diagnostic, noninvasive, medical technology to provide reliable results for effective treatment.  

We house the best vascular ultrasound technology which can conduct assessments throughout the body including venous, carotid, arterial and abdominal ultrasound.   

Our board certified medical and vascular experts hold over 20 combined years. 

Our holistic healthcare approach is with you every step of the way from clinical assessment to diagnosis, treatment plan, post-operative follow-up, and compassionate support for you and your family to keep you informed at every stage.  

 

 

What is Vascular Diagnostics?

The vascular system of the body includes all blood vessels like arteries and veins which carry blood from the heart to the body’s organs and from the organs back to the heart. Vascular diagnostics is a specialized branch of diagnostics which tests, screens, assesses and treats diseases and conditions of the vascular system. Vascular disease implies unhealthy changes in our blood vessels including blood clots, varicose veins and build-up of plaque.  

Our Services and Treatments

Tests for general conditions:  

 

  • Lower Limb Venous (DVT/ CVI) 
  • Upper Limb Venous 
  • Lower Limb Arterial 
  • Upper Limb Arterial 
  • IVC – Iliac Veins 
  • Graft Surveillance 
  • Venous mapping Pre OP for CABG 
  • Physiological study lower limbs ABPI (Mandatory prior to Arterial Duplex) 
  • Pre/Post Exercise ABPI 
  • Physiological study upper limbs WBPI 
  • Upper limb TOS test 
  • Extracranial Carotid duplex & Vertebral 
  • Abdominal Aorta 
  • Aorto-Iliacs 
  • Pseudoaneurysms 
  • Transcranial Doppler 
  • Hemodialysis Access Duplex AVF mapping and assessment 
  • Pre renal transplant vascular assessm

Our Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory performs the following procedures: 

 

  • Arterial Doppler and pulse volume recorder evaluation with or without exercise testing 
  • Digital arterial studies 
  • Duplex ultrasonographic evaluation of hemodialysis access devices 
  • Evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysm with duplex ultrasonography 
  • Evaluation of temporal arteritis 
  • Extracranial cerebrovascular duplex ultrasonography 
  • Graft imaging to assess patency status after arterial bypass 
  • Intracranial cerebrovascular duplex ultrasonography 
  • Intravascular completion duplex ultrasonography 
  • Mesenteric arterial duplex ultrasonography 
  • Renal artery duplex ultrasonography 
  • Supine and standing lower extremity venous duplex ultrasonography 
  • Upper and lower extremity arterial duplex ultrasonography 
  • Upper and lower extremity vein mapping 
  • Upper extremity venous duplex ultrasonography 

 

Common vascular conditions we evaluate: 

  • Aortic aneurysm: a bulge in the aorta, the main artery leading from the heart 
  • Carotid artery disease (CAD): a narrowing of the carotid artery, the main artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain 
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): a blood clot in a vein deep in the body, which runs to the heart 
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD): narrowing of the arteries in the legs and pelvis, for example 
  • Peripheral vascular disease (PVD): narrowing of blood vessels that take blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys 

 

Common noninvasive vascular tests we do include: 

  • Ankle-brachial indices (ABI) to evaluate blood flow in the legs 
  • Mapping of the arteries and veins 
  • Ultrasound of the carotid artery, which supplies blood from the heart to the head 
  • Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysm, in which we repair the damaged blood vessel (aorta) from inside the blood vessel 
  • Peripheral ultrasound 
  • Pulse volume recordings 
  • Renal artery ultrasound 
  • Surveillance, or monitoring, of grafts in the upper and lower extremity, after a bypass operation  
  • Velocity waveform studies (spectral analysis) to evaluate the speed of blood flow 
  • Venous reflux testing to evaluate conditions related to blood flow, such as varicose veins, pain or swelling in the arms or legs 

Our non-invasive vascular studies are relevant for the following conditions: 

 

Cerebrovascular 

  • Amaurosis fugax 
  • Atypical central nervous system symptoms 
  • Carotid bruit 
  • Follow-up of carotid stenosis 
  • Non-hemispheric cerebral ischemic symptoms 
  • Post-surgical evaluation for carotid restenosis 
  • Prior to heart or major surgeries in selected cases 
  • Question of carotid dissection 
  • Question of carotid aneurysm 
  • Stroke 
  • Subclavian steal 
  • TIA (transischemic attack) 
  • Vague symptoms of light-headedness, dizziness or syncope 
  • Vertebral basilar symptoms 
  • Vertebral occlusive disease 

 

Abdominal Vessels 

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm 
  • Abdominal bruit 
  • Aortoiliac occlusive disease 
  • Follow-up of aortic, renal, mesenteric or iliac stenosis 
  • Follow-up of renal or iliac angioplasty/stent procedures 
  • Iliac vein or caval thrombosis 
  • Ischemic nephropathy 
  • Mesenteric ischemia 
  • Post-surgical evaluation of aortic, renal or mesenteric grafts 
  • Post-surgical evaluation of aortic, renal, mesenteric or iliac stenosis 
  • Renovascular hypertension 

 

Peripheral Venous 

  • Chronic venous insufficiency, reflux/valvular incompetence 
  • Follow-up during and after anti-coagulant therapy 
  • Observation of high-risk patient groups for development of deep venous thrombosis (e.g., pregnant females, cancer patients) 
  • Suspected deep venous thrombosis or superficial phlebitis 
  • Varicose veins 
  • Vein mapping for coronary or peripheral arterial reconstruction 
  • Venous evaluation prior to implantation of various access devices (e.g., catheters, lines) 

 

Peripheral Arterial 

  • Bypass graft follow-up 
  • Diminished or absent peripheral pulses 
  • Evaluation of degree of claudication, if present 
  • Evaluation of medical management 
  • Leg pain of questionable etiology 
  • Non-healing foot/toe lesions 
  • Peripheral aneurysm evaluation 
  • Rest pain (diabetic neuropathy versus ischemia) 
  • Trauma to peripheral artery 
  • Vasospastic disorders 

 

Know your Doctor

You are unique and so should your healthcare plan be personalized to your wellbeing. Our board-certified doctors are highly experienced and qualified to guide you on your healthcare journey, from consultation and diagnosis to treatment and recovery.  

Get to know your Kuwait Hospital doctor and his/her specialization, credentials, and successful track-record for positive health outcomes.