Vascular ultrasound obtains images and measures blood flow velocity in the carotids, abdominal aorta, and vessels of kidneys, arms, or legs. Blockages in arteries, blood clots in veins, or abdominal aortic aneurysm can be detected.
These abnormalities in blood flow are usually examined with different Doppler techniques. In addition, the speed and direction of blood flow can be color coded in a color map. Duplex techniques show both, the vessels and the surrounding tissue. The use of ultrasound contrast agents improves the left ventricular opacification in cardiac ultrasound examination. Usually, for a vascular ultrasound no special preparation is needed.

See also Echocardiography, Venous Ultrasound, Adventitia, Intima, Temporal Mean Velocity, and Intravascular Ultrasound.

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(AI) This index is the ratio between the acceleration of the Doppler spectral waveform and the relative peak systolic velocity. The systolic acceleration is determined by the change in distance between the begin of systolic flow and the peak systolic velocity (cm/sec), divided by the acceleration time (AT - time interval from the onset of flow to the initial peak).
The acceleration index is reported in frequency units as KHz/sec or velocity units as cm/sec2.