Vascular Laboratory

The Vascular Laboratory service provides diagnostic information for the assessment and management of arterial and venous disease. The range of studies include:

• Carotid duplex ultrasound for the investigation of TIA, stroke or carotid bruits
• Venous ultrasound for the diagnosis of DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis)
• Venous ultrasound for the investigation of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency
• Ankle brachial indices for investigation of peripheral arterial disease
• Digital pressure measurement for the investigation of critical ischaemia
• Aortic ultrasound for the diagnosis and surveillance of aortic aneurysms
• Arterial duplex scan for the pre and post operative assessment of vascular patients

The Vascular Laboratory accepts referrals from St James's Hospital clinical staff and other hospitals. 

External referrals should be made by letter via fax, post or email.

The laboratory should be phoned for all urgent referrals.

If you are concerned about yourself or a family member please contact your GP to be referred.

The Vascular Laboratory is staffed by seven highly trained vascular physiologists, who work as part of the larger Vascular Department. Quality assurance is very important and there are weekly multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure the accuracy of the laboratory results. A vascular consultant is always available to deal with any patient queries.

All GP referrals are triaged by one of the vascular consultants and scheduled appropriately. Results are also reviewed by a vascular consultant. The vascular laboratory and the Emergency Department (ED) run a fast-track DVT pathway and as a result the laboratory does not accept direct DVT referrals.  All referrals are via ED.

The Vascular Laboratory is actively involved in several research projects within the Vascular Department. Several national and international research papers have resulted from this work.