Medicine

Patient information for Translation

Vascular laboratory at
St Bartholomew’s Hospital

You have been given an appointment in the vascular laboratory at St Bartholomew’s Hospital for a vascular ultrasound test. This leaflet explains what the test involves.

Why do I need a vascular laboratory test?

The test has been requested by a hospital doctor to help diagnose your condition and plan your treatment. Staff will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions that you may have.

What type of tests will I have?

The test is usually an ultrasound scan in which special attention is paid to the blood vessels. The scan is sometimes called a ‘duplex ultrasound’ or ‘doppler ultrasound scan’. The vessels most commonly examined are the arteries or veins in the neck, arms, legs or abdomen.

Another test uses ultrasound and blood pressure cuffs to measure blood pressure in the arms and legs. You may also be asked to exercise on a treadmill for up to five minutes at a speed you are happy with, to help with the diagnosis.   

Ultrasound machine

What will happen during the test?

During the ultrasound scan you will either lie or sit on a couch, or stand on a stool. The room will be partially darkened to enable the person performing the scan to see the monitor. You will be asked to partially undress to allow the area of interest to be scanned.

A clear, water-soluble gel is put on the skin and an ultrasound probe is slid over the skin of the area to be examined. The instrument causes no pain. The examination normally takes between 20 and 60 minutes and you may be asked to change positions during the scan.

Do I need to prepare for the test?

There is no preparation for these tests. You can eat and drink as normal.

Are there any risks involved?

There are no known risks accompanying the ultrasound examinations performed within the vascular laboratory.

Who will perform the test?

A clinical vascular scientist trained in the use of medical ultrasound will perform your test, though other staff may be present and the test may be checked by another member of staff. There are no medical doctors working in the lab. The hospital doctor who made the request will explain the results and clinical implications of your test to you when you next see them.

You do not have to be accompanied to your appointment, however you may have somebody with you if you wish.

What happens to the results of the test?

The test result will be stored in your hospital records. If your test was requested by a doctor within the Trust, they will be able to access your results electronically. If a doctor from another hospital requested your test, we will post or fax the results to them.

Ultrasound image

How to contact us

If you cannot attend or need more information before or after the test, please contact the vascular laboratory on 020 3594 1076 as soon as possible to arrange another appointment.

Our administration address is:

Vascular Lab

1st Floor (Imaging)

Royal London Hospital

London E1 1BB

Tel: 020 3594 1076

Fax: 020 3594 3224

Your health records

To enable us to improve the quality of the care that we provide, your health records are kept by the Trust and may be used for teaching, training, audit and research. Further information on how the Trust uses your information can be found on our website at http://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/your-visit/advice-and-support/your-health-record/

Self help and support groups

www.circulationfoundation.org.uk

www.nhs.uk/smokefree

www.stroke.org.uk

www.nhs.uk/pages/home

Where is the vascular laboratory at
St Bartholomew’s?

The Vascular Lab is located in the Basement of the King George V Building (KGV).  Please report to the Nuclear Medicine reception desk.

Getting to St Bartholomew’s:

If at all possible, please use public transport to come into hospital, or ask someone to drop you off.

Tube: The nearest underground stations are Barbican, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pauls.

• Barbican and Farringdon are served by the Hammersmith and City Line, Metropolitan line and the Circle line.
• Blackfriars is served by the Circle line and District line.
• St Paul’s is served by the Central line.

Rail: Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars and Liverpool Street are the nearest National Rail Stations.

Buses: The following buses stop outside or close to our hospital: Numbers 4, 8, 25, 56, 172, and 242.

Drop-off point for taxis and cars: Patients can be dropped off at the KGV entrance on King Edward Street. Pedestrians can also use this entrance.

Parking: There is no public parking at the hospital itself, but there is limited metered parking in surrounding streets and a NCP car park in Smithfield.

Large print and other languages

This information can be made available in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print, and may be available in alternative languages, upon request. For more information, speak to your clinical team.
 

এই তথ্যগুলো সহজে পড়া যায় অথবা বৃহৎ প্রিন্টের মত বিকল্প ফরম্যাটে পাওয়া যাবে, এবং অনুরোধে অন্য ভাষায়ও পাওয়া যেতে পারে। আরো তথ্যের জন্য আপনার ক্লিনিক্যাল টিমের সাথে কথা বলুন।

Na żądanie te informacje mogą zostać udostępnione w innych formatach, takich jak zapis większą czcionką lub łatwą do czytania, a także w innych językach. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, porozmawiaj ze swoim zespołem specjalistów.

Macluumaadkaan waxaa loo heli karaa qaab kale, sida ugu akhrinta ugu fudud, ama far waa weyn, waxana laga yabaa in lagu heli luuqaado Kale, haddii la codsado. Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, kala hadal kooxda xarunta caafimaadka.

Bu bilgi, kolay okunurluk veya büyük baskılar gibi alternatif biçimlerde sunulabilir, ve talep üzerine Alternatif Dillerde sunulabilir. Daha fazla bilgi için klinik ekibinizle irtibata geçin.

یہ معلومات متبادل فارمیٹس میں دستیاب کی جا سکتی ہیں، جیسا کہ پڑھنے میں آسان یا بڑا پرنٹ  اور درخواست پر متبادل زبانوں میں بھی دستیاب ہو سکتی ہیں۔ مزید معلومات کے لیے، اپنی کلینکل ٹیم سے بات کریں'۔

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Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Please contact us if you need general information or advice about Trust services: www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/pals

Reference: BH/PIN/744

Publication date: October 2021

All our patient information leaflets are reviewed every three years.

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