Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Test
Patient Instructions
- Be prepared to stay for 45 minutes to an hour. The time of your arrival is not the time for your procedure. Arriving earlier does not ensure a shorter wait. The prep time is 15-20 minutes.
- You may eat and drink as usual. Follow your physician's instructions on what medications to take.
- Bring a list of all the medications you are currently taking, including insulin, vitamins and herbal supplements.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- You may wear your eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures.
- Please DO NOT bring small children.
What happens during the Carotid Intima-Media Thickness exam?
Please check in with the registration staff upon arrival. After the registration process, a staff member will take you to an exam room to get prepared for the procedure. The typical prep includes a vascular risk assessment with questions about your medical history. After your interview, a vascular technologist will help you onto an exam table. The room will feel cool since the temperature is kept low for the equipment. Once you're on the table, you will be covered with a blanket. The vascular technologist will use a small ultrasound transducer and ultrasound gel to take images of both your carotid arteries. Depending on the results of the carotid images, the technologist may then image your femoral arteries in your legs and your aorta in your abdomen. As the images are acquired, you may experience gentle pressure on both sides of your neck. The typical exam takes about 45 minutes.
When will I receive the results of my Carotid Intima-Media Thickness exam?
When the procedure is finished, you will be free to leave. The exam will be reviewed and interpreted by a physician. A signed final report will be mailed to you or reviewed during your follow-up visit with the nurse practitioner. You are encouraged to share the information from the screening with your primary care physician.
We hope this information has given you an understanding of what to expect. For more information, please call your physician's office. Thank you for choosing Piedmont.