In-House Vascular Ultrasound
Diagnosis, Without the Referral Runaround
Our In-House Ultrasound Lab means the vascular ultrasound equipment used at hospitals and outside imaging centers is right here in our office. Instead of a referral to a separate facility and a wait for results to be sent back, Dr. Brookshire performs your testing, reads your results, and talks through your options with you — often in the same visit.
That matters because vascular problems are easiest to treat early, and a faster diagnosis means faster treatment. Many patients who come in with leg pain or a screening request leave the same day already knowing what is going on and what happens next.
What We Test
Our lab uses the same diagnostic tools found at hospital vascular labs, without the hospital visit.
| Test | What It Checks |
|---|---|
| Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) | Compares blood pressure at your ankle to your arm to screen for PAD |
| Arterial Duplex Ultrasound | Shows blood flow and narrowing in your leg or neck arteries in real time |
| Segmental Pressure Testing | Measures blood pressure at multiple points along the leg to pinpoint a blockage |
| Venous Duplex Ultrasound | Checks for blood clots (DVT) and venous reflux behind varicose veins |
Who Should Get Screened
There’s a Reason to Get Screened at Every Stage
Symptoms now.
You Have Symptoms Now
Leg pain when you walk, a wound that won’t heal, or sudden swelling in one leg deserves a fast answer — not a multi-week wait for an outside imaging appointment. In-house ultrasound means you can often leave your visit already knowing what is going on.
No symptoms.
You Have No Symptoms
Many vascular conditions, including carotid artery disease, cause no symptoms until they become serious. If you smoke, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of vascular disease, screening can catch a problem years before it would otherwise be found.
Doesn’t add up.
Your Symptoms Don’t Make Sense
Leg cramping that doesn’t fit a simple explanation, swelling that comes and goes, or fatigue that limits your walking can have more than one possible cause. In-house testing helps sort out whether the source is your arteries, your veins, or something else.
Why Early Detection Matters
“Finding a blocked or narrowed vessel before it causes a wound or a stroke is what early detection is all about.”
Vascular disease often has no early warning signs, and by the time symptoms are impossible to ignore, treatment can be more involved. Regular screening — especially if you have risk factors like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of vascular disease — is one of the most effective ways to catch a problem while it is still easy to treat, and can help reduce the risk of losing a toe, foot, or leg.
How a Screening Visit Works
From Call to Answers, Usually One Visit
Schedule Your Visit
Call or request online; most patients are seen within the same week.
Quick Intake
A few questions about your health history and symptoms, if any.
Painless Testing
ABI, duplex ultrasound, or segmental pressure testing, done right in our office.
Same-Visit Review
Dr. Brookshire reviews your results with you in plain language, most of the time before you leave.
Your Next Step
Whether that’s reassurance, monitoring, or a treatment plan in our Office-Based Lab, you leave knowing what’s next.
Conditions We Screen For
Screening can catch or rule out any of the conditions we treat. On the arterial side, that includes Peripheral Artery Disease and Carotid Artery Disease — conditions that often develop silently until they cause a bigger problem.
On the venous side, screening can identify Varicose Veins & Venous Reflux and DVT / Blood Clots. And when a wound will not heal, screening can find the circulation problem behind it — an important step before your wound care team continues treatment.
If your results point to a treatable narrowing or blockage, many patients move straight into a minimally invasive procedure in our Office-Based Lab — still without a hospital stay.
Not sure which one applies to you? That is exactly what a screening is for.
Why Choose STVI
A Screening Backed by a Vascular Surgeon
Not every screening happens in a doctor’s office. Dr. Ralph Brookshire is double board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery, in both General Surgery and General Vascular Surgery — so if your screening finds something, you are already in front of the specialist who can treat it, not waiting for a second referral.
Where a screening at a health fair or pharmacy gives you a pass/fail result, an in-house vascular ultrasound gives Dr. Brookshire a detailed picture of your arteries and veins — enough to build an actual treatment plan if one is needed, not just a recommendation to see someone else.
Screening, diagnosis, and treatment planning all happen under one roof, with bilingual staff and same-week appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vascular ultrasound screening?
A vascular ultrasound screening checks the blood flow in your arteries and veins using painless tests like ABI and duplex ultrasound. It can catch narrowed arteries or vein problems, often before you have obvious symptoms.
Is vascular ultrasound testing painful?
No. ABI testing uses blood pressure cuffs, and ultrasound uses a handheld probe on your skin. Neither involves needles or radiation.
How long does a screening take?
Most screenings take well under an hour, and many patients get their results during the same visit.
Who should get a vascular ultrasound screening?
Screening is especially worthwhile if you smoke, have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a family history of vascular disease, or symptoms like leg pain, swelling, or a wound that won't heal.
Do I need a referral for a vascular screening?
No referral is needed. You can call or request an appointment directly.
What happens after my results come back?
Dr. Brookshire reviews your results with you in plain language. Depending on what the ultrasound shows, next steps can range from monitoring to a minimally invasive procedure performed right in our Office-Based Lab.
Know Where You Stand.
Schedule an Evaluation.
A single in-house visit can tell you whether your arteries and veins are working the way they should — and what to do next if they’re not.