Re: Vessel size on ultrasound

[Leighannbowe]

To answer the first question: On an ultrasound, the picture does not necessarily show the vessels actual size. But you can easily determine vessel size in a couple of ways. One is to look at the depth markers (like the line down the middle of the screen) and determine the vessel size based upon the comparison to these. On the I-Look these marks are 0.5cm apart, until you increase the depth to 4.6cm, then they are 1cm apart. The other way (my preferred) is to press the pause button (button at top, with two lines on it). This freezes the picture, and brings up a menu on the left side of the picture. Using the stylus, touch the "MEAS" on the menu on the screen. This brings up calipers. Touch the stylus to one edge of the vessel on the screen, then touch "CAL 2" with the stylus, then touch on the screen on the edge of the vessel directly across from the first place you touched. This places the calipers across from each other, measuring vessel diameter. The diameter will be displayed in cm on the left upper side of the screen. You can then hit the save button to save this picture in the memory, and print it now or later. This is great documentation to show that you made an appropriate vessel choice for the size catheter you inserted. Email me privately if you have any questions. Leigh Ann