| NIVA™
Lab
The NIVA (Non-Invasive Vascular Assessment)
lab is a Vascular Laboratory specializing in the non-invasive
screening, diagnosis, and management of vascular (blood
vessel) disease. The procedures performed are painless
and without side effects. No needles, catheters, or
dyes are required. We utilize advanced Ultrasound and
Doppler technologies that allow us to evaluate arteries
and veins through intact skin, with handheld probes
and blood pressure cuffs. Tests are performed when requested
by your doctor. Common tests your doctor may order include:
Carotid Duplex
A test to evaluate the arteries in the neck, which supply
blood to the brain, for plaque (stenosis).  You
might have this test if you have symptoms of stroke
or TIA (mini-stroke), have a bruit (noise) in your neck,
or are at high risk for stroke. Ultrasound technology
is now so good that therapeutic recommendations can
usually be made without additional invasive testing.
Extremity Venous studies
Usually performed in the leg or arm to diagnose or rule
out a “DVT” or deep vein thrombosis, which
is a blood clot within a vein, which may present as
leg pain or swelling.
Extremity Arterial studies
This test usually looks at the leg arteries, and infrequently
the arm arteries to look for PVD (peripheral vascular
disease). The most common reason to perform this test
is for claudication, which is muscle cramping secondary
to low blood flow. You may also have this test if you
have an abnormal pulse exam, have a foot wound that
doesn’t heal, or have a possible leg artery aneurysm.
Aortic Ultrasound
The most common reason this test is performed is screening,
diagnosis, or surveillance of Aortic Aneurysms. An aneurysm
is abnormal dilation or expansion of an artery, and
the abdominal aorta is the most common location. As
it expands, the wall becomes thinner and weaker. When
left undiagnosed, aneurysms can continue to get larger
and eventually “rupture” which is extremely
lethal.
Mesenteric and Renal Duplex
These tests examine the intestinal and kidney arteries.
Plaque in these arteries can occasionally cause abdominal
pain, and in the case of kidney artery blockage, can
lead to severe high blood pressure.
“NIVA Screen”
The above tests can only be performed when ordered by
a physician. Most insurance companies won’t pay
for the above exams in the absence of a symptom or clinical
concern. We are offering screening examinations for
the three most common vascular diseases with carotid,
aortic aneurysm, and PVD screening, that can be scheduled
by the patient directly. Results are given to the patient,
and if an abnormality is suspected or identified, that
information can be directed to the patient’s physician.
Image-guided biopsy
In addition to the above vascular testing, we also offer
in-office ultrasound-guided biopsy of breast, thyroid,
and soft tissue abnormalities. Often times these biopsies
can be performed in the same setting as the initial
consultation with one of our surgeons, thus speeding
up the time to diagnosis of the abnormality of concern.
NIVA Lab Technicians
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