Ultrasound
An ultrasound examination will evaluate the veins in the legs, looking for blood clots, narrowed veins and abnormal flow in the veins. It is a painless test that usually takes less than 30 minutes to perform. During this test, the sonographer places the ultrasound transducer on the leg and images the veins of the leg from the groin to the calf.
Intravascular Ultrasound
This test is performed in the hospital. You will be given intravenous sedation for the procedure. A catheter (small plastic tube) is placed into one of the veins in your thigh and a small ultrasound probe is then used to take pictures of the inside of your veins. This test will look for narrowed veins in your pelvis that may be causing your chronic venous disease. You may also receive a small dose of x-ray dye during this procedure.