Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) develops over many years, usually without symptoms. It is the most common cause of heart attack, stroke and circulatory problems in the legs. With B-mode ultrasound of the blood vessels we can detect deposits in the vessel wall (plaques) early, before they cause problems.
Who is the examination useful for?
We offer vascular ultrasound to patients with an increased risk of vascular disease, for example with
- raised cholesterol levels
- smoking, including in the past
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- heart attack or stroke at a young age in the family
What does the examination show?
B-mode ultrasound shows the vessel wall in cross-section. When screening for arteriosclerosis, we examine the carotid arteries in the neck, the abdominal aorta and the leg arteries. This shows whether deposits have already formed and how pronounced they are.
The result helps to assess your personal cardiovascular risk. If deposits are found, this can be important, for example, when deciding on cholesterol-lowering treatment or as motivation to stop smoking.
Procedure
The examination is painless and involves no radiation. You lie comfortably on the examination couch and we examine you using a little ultrasound gel. The examination takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and no preparation is needed. We discuss the result with you straight away.
Costs
Without specific symptoms, vascular ultrasound as a preventive check is not covered by statutory health insurance. For patients with statutory insurance we offer it as a self-pay service (IGeL); for private patients we charge according to the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ). We will be happy to tell you about the costs in advance.