Peripheral Arterial & Venous Scan
What Is a Peripheral Arterial & Venous Scan?
Peripheral vascular ultrasound uses Doppler technology to assess blood flow through the arteries and veins in your arms or legs. This scan can detect blockages, narrowing, blood clots, and other vascular abnormalities in real-time.
Important: Arterial and venous scans are different tests for different symptoms. Arterial scans assess blood flow TO your limbs (checks for blockages). Venous scans assess blood flow FROM your limbs (checks for blood clots/DVT). Please specify which you need when booking, or contact us for guidance.
What We Assess With This Scan
- Arterial: Blood flow through leg or arm arteries, plaque build-up, narrowing
- Venous: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots, vein compressibility
- Femoral, popliteal, tibial arteries and veins
- Blood flow speed and volume using Doppler technology
This scan cannot assess:
- Varicose veins in detail (see our dedicated Varicose Vein Scan)
- Blood vessels inside the body cavity
Why You Might Need This Scan
Common symptoms:
- •Arterial: Leg pain when walking that improves with rest, cold feet, poor wound healing
- •Venous: Sudden leg swelling, pain or tenderness in calf or thigh, warmth or redness in leg
Conditions we assess:
- •Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- •Peripheral arterial disease
- •Atherosclerotic plaque
- •Arterial stenosis (narrowing)
- •Chronic venous insufficiency
What to Expect
Before Your Scan
No special preparation is needed.
Preparation checklist:
- Wear loose-fitting trousers or shorts (you may need to remove trousers for leg scans)
- For arm scans, wear a short-sleeved or easily removable top
- Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time
During the Scan
You'll be comfortably positioned on an examination table. Warm gel is applied to the skin, and the sonographer moves the ultrasound probe along the limb being examined. For venous scans, the sonographer will press firmly at various points to check vein compressibility. You'll hear sounds like wind or a heartbeat — this is the Doppler detecting blood flow. Duration: Single leg 30-45 minutes, both legs 60-90 minutes.
After Your Scan
You can return to normal activities immediately. There are no restrictions.
Results & Next Steps
Your scan is reviewed by a consultant radiologist, who prepares a formal report. This report is sent to your referring doctor within 2-3 working days. If a DVT is detected, this is an urgent finding — your doctor will be notified promptly, and you'll need immediate treatment with blood-thinning medication.
Pricing
Price: €170-€270 (Medical Card: €150-€250)
Cancellation: We require 24 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Book?
Available 7 days a week across our three Dublin locations.
Call 01 210 0232Make an AppointmentReady to Book Your Scan?
Our experienced team is available 7 days a week across our three Dublin locations.