State of the art Ultrasound

ultrasound machine

Xario XG ultrasound machine

 

Specialist Vein Care uses state of the art ultrasound technology. The main ultrasound machine used at our practice is the Xario XG, manufactured by Toshiba, a global leading provider of diagnostic medical imaging systems.

Xario XG is a premium machine which provides unsurpassed resolution and image quality. Duplex imaging on this machine is quite exquisite.

It allows us to precisely demonstrate structures allowing for accurate assessment of venous disease.

This machine allows us to see sub-millimetre structures such as tiny arteries, veins and nerves, which were previously difficult to visualise.

Xario XG has two features which are worth mentioning:

  1. Advanced Dynamic Flow™, which accurately displays blood flow with directional information, even for tiny vessels, and improves diagnoses
  2. ApliPure, which uses real-time spatial and frequency compounding technology to deliver clearer image quality. This allows us to visualise even tiny vessels and aid in the accuracy of ultrasound guided sclerotherapy.

 

figure 1

Fig. 1 Image above showing a Great Saphenous Vein within its fascial sheath. This appearance is known as the 'Egyptian Eye'. Normal size is 2-5mm, this one measures 6mm. We like to treat incompetent Great or Small Saphenous Veins with Endovenous Laser Ablation when their diameter is >/= 5mm.

 

figure 2

Fig. 2 Image above shows an incompetent small saphenous vein, after injection with sclerosant showing expected spasm/closure. This is seen as a tiny white dot in the upper portion of the image.

 

figure 3

 

figure 4

The images above demonstrate an incompetent Great Saphenous vein at its origin (Fig. 3) at the saphenofemoral junction. This illustrates reflux (reverse flow) after valsalva, as shown by the red colour in Fig. 3 In Fig. 4 there is reflux within the same Great Saphenous vein, in the mid thigh, of greater than 1 seconds after distal augmentation, which means blood is travelling back down the leg instead of towards the heart as is normal.

 

figure 5

Fig. 5 The image above shows a perforating vein. These are veins that connect the superficial veins to the deep veins. If incompetent i.e. abnormal reversed flow (normal flow is from the superficial to the deep veins), with flow passing from the deep to the superficial veins, this can produce or be related to varicose veins.

 

figure 6

Fig. 6 Image of an upper thigh vein, measuring 1.2mm, clearly demonstrated. With ultrasound guidance this vein would be easily and precisely punctured and injected with sclerosant.