Your Initial Consultation
The initial consultation with a Vascular Specialist will usually take between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the complexity of your case. A background of the problem, your past medical history and current medical conditions, treated and untreated, including your current medications if any, all will have a bearing on what treatment can be provided. Your GP may have provided information in the referral letter but it is important that you mention anything that you feel is relevant, and bring along a list of your current medication. As with all medical consultations, any information is confidential.
Once the background has been obtained, the Vascular Specialist will need to examine you and the specific area of concern. Commonly that will require you to remove some of your clothing; it is advisable that you wear something loose and comfortable, and easily removed and replaced, to your consultation. As part of the examination, an assessment of your general vascular health will be made.
Usually the Vascular Specialist will take readings of your blood flow in the limbs using a Hand Held Doppler. This device is painlessly placed on the skin over a vessel and, through a gel, detects flow within the vessel. Sometimes, if there is a suspected problem with the blood supply, a pressure cuff will be applied to the limbs to check pressure readings of the blood that is flowing.
Using a combination of the history, examination and non-invasive testing, the Vascular Specialist will be able to give you a good idea of whether the problem is related to vascular disease, and what further investigation and treatment may be required. If the condition is not related to vascular disease, advice on the next steps for investigation is usually provided.
Once the background has been obtained, the Vascular Specialist will need to examine you and the specific area of concern. Commonly that will require you to remove some of your clothing; it is advisable that you wear something loose and comfortable, and easily removed and replaced, to your consultation. As part of the examination, an assessment of your general vascular health will be made.
Usually the Vascular Specialist will take readings of your blood flow in the limbs using a Hand Held Doppler. This device is painlessly placed on the skin over a vessel and, through a gel, detects flow within the vessel. Sometimes, if there is a suspected problem with the blood supply, a pressure cuff will be applied to the limbs to check pressure readings of the blood that is flowing.
Using a combination of the history, examination and non-invasive testing, the Vascular Specialist will be able to give you a good idea of whether the problem is related to vascular disease, and what further investigation and treatment may be required. If the condition is not related to vascular disease, advice on the next steps for investigation is usually provided.