Non-Invasive Arterial Vascular Studies Of Upper And Lower Extremities

Non-invasive studies of the arterial system of the upper and lower extremities are used primarily to establish the level or grade of obstructive arterial disease and is considered for payment if there are findings and symptoms of a possible ischemia of the extremity. It is also considered for payment if the patient is a candidate for invasive treatment of his condition. A history and physical examination that includes the ankle / brachial index can document the presence or absence of ischemic disease in most of the cases. They should not be used for the monitoring of the medical treatment (e.g. evaluation of pharmacological intervention). This latter case can be monitored with physical findings and/or progression or improvement of findings and symptoms. Edema rarely occurs in presence of occlusive disease except in its postoperative period, in association to an inflammatory process or associated to pain at rest. There are two types of peripheral arterial studies: Physiological studies – these studies are of functional measures that include analysis of Doppler wave form with response to the compression by segments, blood pressure measurements, measurements of transcutaneous oxygen pressure, plethysmography of volume by segments, determinations with provocation tests and reactive hyperemia determinations; Duplex scanning of the upper and lower extremities – is an ultrasonic scanning where images and structures are shown in two dimensions and in real time. It also includes a spectral analysis with the speed of the blood flow. <a id="