How do you know whether your vascular ultrasound is high-quality or inferior quality? How can you tell the difference between a good ultrasound and one that will have major consequences down the road? The answer lies in understanding what makes for an effective ultrasound test and how to spot low-quality results. Read on to learn more about what sets one vascular ultrasound apart from another and the potential outcomes that can result from having a poor-quality scan vs. a high-quality one.
Better visualization of arterial disease
Arterial disease can often go undetected until it is too late. That is why having a high-quality ultrasound is so important. With doppler imaging, we can get a clear picture of the arteries and see what is going on. This allows us to catch the disease early and treat it before it becomes serious. As a result, patients with high-quality ultrasounds have better outcomes overall. They are less likely to need emergency surgery and more likely to return home sooner than those who receive poor-quality ultrasounds. The earlier arterial disease is detected, the less damage will be done.
Saving time and costs by ruling out aneurysms
One of the most important benefits of having a high-quality ultrasound is that it can save time and costs by ruling out aneurysms. Aneurysms are often hard to detect without Doppler imaging and can be expensive to treat. By catching them early, you can avoid costly surgeries and save lives. In addition, ultrasound exams only require one technician or sonographer rather than two like doppler imaging exams; this means less expense and more availability. Another key benefit of high-quality ultrasounds is that there is no need for contrast injections with some risk factors. For example, allergic reactions to the contrast dye may occur and kidney failure if you have kidney disease. A high-quality vascular ultrasound also decreases your risk of contracting HIV from contaminated needles and blood clots from blood transfusions and reduces your chance of death if someone else has hepatitis B or C.
Improved comfort for patients
Patients who receive high-quality vascular ultrasound treatments often report feeling more comfortable during the procedure. The improved image quality means that the technician can see what they are doing more clearly, which can help avoid discomfort or pain. In addition, patients often feel more confident knowing that the procedure is being performed by a qualified technician using the best equipment available. This can lead to better overall outcomes and a quicker recovery time. For example, according to one study, patients who received high-quality ultrasounds reported significantly less pain after treatment than those who received poor-quality scans. In addition, these same patients could return home sooner and did not require hospitalization following their treatment. Finally, another study found that after receiving treatment on a machine equipped with high-quality ultrasound technology as opposed to one without this capability, patients could recover much faster than those treated on a non-high-tech machine.
Significantly reduced false positives on a peripheral duplex exam
When you are looking at an ultrasound of the arteries and veins, the quality of the image can have a significant impact on the results. A high-quality image will result in significantly fewer false positives, meaning that the doctor can be more confident in their diagnosis. This can lead to better treatment and fewer unnecessary tests or procedures. On the other hand, a poor-quality image can result in more false positives, leading to anxiety and unnecessary tests or procedures. Additionally, not being able to see the anatomy clearly can make it difficult for a physician to make an accurate diagnosis. The potential outcomes depend on what is being looked at during the exam, so they may vary based on the physician’s specialty area and where exactly in the body they are looking.
Better long-term health management
Regarding health management, vascular ultrasound quality can make a significant difference. Those who receive high-quality ultrasounds are more likely to have better long-term health outcomes. This is because high-quality ultrasounds can provide more accurate information about the state of a patient’s vascular health. This information can then be used to effectively manage the patient’s care. In contrast, mediocre quality ultrasounds can lead to misdiagnoses and improper treatment, which can profoundly affect a patient’s health.
