Ultrasound Scan:
Pre-CABG Workup

An aortoiliac ultrasound scan usually takes between 20-30 minutes.

 

The purpose of this ultrasound scan is to assess the blood flow through the arteries in your abdomen. This ultrasound requires direct contact with your skin. The scan will assess the arteries from as high as the diaphragm to the level of the hips. We will require you to lift your jumper and shirt up and also shuffle your trousers down to the hips.

 

We will ask for you to lie on your back on our examination bed. During the scan we will apply ultrasound gel to your abdomen and use the ultrasound machine to look at the the arteries to assess for narrowing and blockages. You will hear noises from the ultrasound machine; this is all normal and is the sound of the blood flow moving through your arteries.

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A Palmer Arch Assessment is unique for pre-CABG workups, and assesses the radial artery in each arm to check for patency, calcification and the presence of a complete palmer arch. The reason for this scan is to determine whether the hand will receive sufficient flow via the ulnar artery if the radial artery was to be removed and used as the bypass graft for the heart. 

This assessment includes three different ultrasound scans:

1. Lower Limb Vein Mapping

2. Carotid Doppler Ultrasound

3. Palmer Arch Assessment