Holidays: We're taking a break from 21 December and will be back on 16 January.
Vascular ultrasound helps diagnose conditions like varicose veins, spider veins, blood clots, blocked arteries for intermittent claudication, ulcers, TIAs, stroke, and aneurysms.
We offer vein and artery ultrasound scans for diagnosis of your vein or artery conditions – we’re with you every step of the way.
You will have been referred for an ultrasound scan by your GP, a nurse specialist or an allied health professional for a vascular ultrasound scan. Our vascular ultrasound specialist will review the scan and report the results to your GP, with any recommendations.
You will have been referred by a vascular specialist or another medical specialist for a vascular ultrasound scan. Our vascular ultrasound specialist will review the scan and report the results to your GP, with any recommendations.
A vascular specialist is an expert in advising on arterial conditions, including:
A vascular specialist is an expert in advising on vein conditions, including:
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You have referred yourself for a vascular ultrasound scan. Our vascular ultrasound specialist will review the scan and report the results to your GP, with any recommendations.
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Diagnosis of aneurysms (enlarged arteries) and blocked or narrowed arteries (occlusion, stenosis)
Blocked and narrowed arteries cause a range of problems
Diagnosis of varicose veins and blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, DVT)
Some blood clots may be serious and require blood thinners (anticoagulation) to prevent the clot travelling to the lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE).
Aneurysms are abnormally large arteries. Aortic, femoral and popliteal aneurysms are relatively common in some people, for example, those who smoke, and may also run in families.
When the carotid arteries are affected, there may be an increased risk of stroke or mini-stroke (TIA). When the leg arteries are affected, there may be an increased risk of pain when walking (intermittent claudication), foot and toe pain (rest pain), and ulcers.
Your general practitioner (GP), specialist or allied health professional needs an ultrasound scan to determine your diagnosis and what treatment, if any, is best for you. Your ultrasound scan gives us a clear insight of your condition:
Monitoring (surveillance) aneurysms, narrowed arteries and artery surgery, such as bypasses and stents
Screening for aneurysms in high-risk groups
Once an arterial problem has been diagnosed or treated, monitoring for progression, or monitoring following surgery, is often recommended.
Some people are more prone to aneurysms. These include those with a family history of aneurysm. For aortic aneurysm, older males and smokers may be particularly at risk.
We also offer Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) tests to help diagnose arterial disease. This is a test that compares the blood pressure in your legs to the blood pressure in your arms and is a good indicator of whether you have arterial disease. Your GP may refer you for an ABI test.
Ankle-Brachial Index
(ABI)
Contact us if you have a vein or arterial condition you’re worried about or your GP has referred you for an ultrasound. Some vein and artery conditions are eligible for Community Referred Radiology services based on local District Health Board (DHB) referral guidelines, these include:
When to contact us
What happens after your scan?
Our registered vascular specialist will analyse your scan and provide your referring medical or other health practitioner with a diagnosis and recommendation for treatment or monitoring.
Yes I'd like a scan:
1. Fill in the health form
2. Attach supporting information
3. Submit
After your consultation our specialist will determine if you need treatment and a scan will be booked. The specialist needs this before any of our treatments. The cost depends on the condition being scanned. Our Ultrasound Coordinator will discuss this with you. Most scans are covered by health insurance.
Your ultrasound scan is performed by a registered ultrasound practitioner (sonographer) and verified and reported on by a Royal Australasian College of Surgeons registered vascular specialist, qualified in diagnostic vascular ultrasound. Rev Vascular Ultrasound is Southern Cross accredited and our service is covered by most insurance companies. Community Referred Radiology applies to some vein and arterial conditions, based on local DHB Pathways referral guidelines.
e: requests@vascularscans.co.nz p: 0800 801 101. m: 0272 583 285. Fill in our fast track health form, submit and we'll be in touch. Your GP may refer you or you can contact us directly.
Your sonographer (the person qualified to do the scan) will explain the process before starting. They will put gel on you so the probe can move smoothly. The probe sends images to a screen. You'll be able to make out areas of your body on the screen. The sonographer is an expert at viewing and saving the images to ensure our specialist who views the images has a complete understanding.
This depends on whether you need more than one area scanned and whether yours is a diagnostic or a screening scan to monitor your condition. Most scans take approximately 30 minutes.
An X-ray uses radiation (X-rays) to create images of your bones and soft tissues. An ultrasound uses sound waves to capture images of veins, arteries and tissues, such as muscle, tendons, ligaments, solid organs and pregnancy.
For most ultrasound scans you don't need to do anything. For abdominal scans you may have to fast for several hours before the scan. We'll let you know.
No, we do not perform pregnancy ultrasounds. We offer ultrasounds for vein and artery conditions.
A sonographer is a person qualified to conduct ultrasound scans. REV Vascular Ultrasound sonographers are fully qualified and registered practitioners.
Your GP may refer you to us for an ultrasound when your condition meets the referral criteria of your local district health board (DHB). There is no charge for vascular ultrasound scans that meet these criteria.
Our clinics require payment on the day of your treatment or appointment. You can pay by eftpos, credit card, online banking or cash.
Vascular, Endovascular & Transplant Surgeon MBCHB (Otago), FRACS (Vascular) FRACS (General Surgery), DDU (Vascular)
Ultrasound Coordinator
Sonographer
Richard Evans
Jo Brown
Sheree Tufuga
Sarah trained first as a radiographer in Manchester UK. Once in New Zealand, and with a Kiwi husband, Sarah worked at North Shore and Wellington hospitals and then Pacific Radiology. She qualified as a sonographer in 2014 performing general, vascular, obstetric and musculoskeletal ultrasounds. Sarah splits her time between REV Vascular Ultrasound and CCDHB.
“Patient care is very important to me and one of my strengths. I enjoy a job that enables me to help people and provide a high quality of work.” In her spare time Sarah likes to walk and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Wellington and around New Zealand.
Sarah Owen
SONOGRAPHER
Richard specialises in arterial and vein conditions, which include aneurysms, arterial blockages and varicose veins. Richard is also a kidney transplant surgeon. With over 25 years of surgical experience, Richard has a private practice as well as working for Capital & Coast District Health Board (CCDHB).
Richard holds a Diploma in Diagnostic Ultrasound (Vascular), a qualification allowing independent vascular ultrasound scanning and reporting. In his spare time, Richard loves the great outdoors.
Jo has extensive experience in reception and administration, particularly in the health sector. First in the United Kingdom, where she lived for 13 years, to banking and audiology and gastroenterology medical practices when back in New Zealand. Jo coordinates our ultrasound appointments, including patients who need ongoing surveillance.
When not at REV Vascular Ultrasound, Jo enjoys horse riding. She also volunteers at Wellington Riding for the Disabled and helps out walking guide dogs for their handlers. “I love working at REV Vascular Ultrasound as it is a wonderful friendly team who are passionate about helping their patients.”
Sheree has over 20 years’ experience in the health care sector with her career beginning in emergency medicine in 1997. Sheree moved into medical imaging receiving her BAppSci (MIT) in 2008. Sheree qualified with a DMU (Diploma of Ultrasonography) in 2015 with a special interest in vascular ultrasound. Sheree performs ultrasounds for REV Vascular Ultrasound at the Kāpiti Boulcott clinic and at the new Five Rivers Medical in Greytown.
“I like the small team environment at REV Vascular Ultrasound and the independence I have scanning for Richard Evans. We’re a very mobile team.”
Chloe Hedges
ULTRASOUND COORDINATOR
Chloe supports all of our ultrasound clinics in the greater Wellington region, Palmerston North and Greytown. With a background in counselling, a psychology degree and having worked for ACC in customer service, communicating with patients is a particular strength. Chloe’s role is to check in with patients, answer questions, manage call-up systems and day-to-day bookings, working closely with our sonographers and vascular surgeon.
Chloe is the ‘face’ of our ultrasound businesses.
“I love being able to do my job from anywhere, having a chat to our patients and hopefully making their day a little easier! In my spare time, you'll find me at the beach, going for a run or studying for my masters in psychology.”
©2023 | REV VASCULAR ULTRASOUND | PRIVACY
0800 45 45 88
Our clinics are in Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kāpiti, Wairarapa and Palmerston North.
*REV Vascular Ultrasound is a subsidiary of Richard Evans Vascular Services and adheres to the ethics referrals code.
Feedback - how did your scan go? We'd love to hear from you.
