The aorta is the largest artery in your body that carries blood from the heart to the head, fingers, and toes and everything in between. The Aorta divides into the right and left common iliac arteries at the level of the belly button, each artery supplying the right and left leg. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an enlargement of the aorta in the abdomen caused by arterial wall weakness usually from atherosclerosis (fatty deposits that cause thickening and hardening of the arteries). Sometimes instead of weakening and enlargement of the aorta or iliac arteries, the aorta and iliac arteries can become narrowed decreasing the amount of blood that can be sent to the legs. To check your Aorta and Iliac arteries for these conditions the technologist will pass a risk-free, painless non-invasive ultrasound transducer (probe or wand) over your upper and lower abdomen to evaluate the size of the Aorta and Iliac arteries and the quality and direction of flow in these important blood vessels. Learn more here.
Indications
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening
- Aortic bypass graft monitoring or endograft or stent evaluation
- Suspected peripheral arterial disease (PAD), characterized by aching/discomfort legs or feet
Patient Preparation
Patients should fast for 6-8 hours prior to their exam. However, patients should take current medications as usual with a small sip of water.
