Northern Montana Hospital Announces Acquisition of New Diagnostic System

for Evaluation of Peripheral Vascular Disease

More than nine million people in the United States are affected by vascular disease.  Primarily detected in the legs, symptoms include pain while walking, ulceration and change in color of the feet and toes.  Northern Montana Hospital, area-wide provider of vascular diagnostic services, recently acquired a new, state-of-the-art system that improves the accuracy and speed of testing in order to promptly direct a patient to proper treatment.

According to John Rosenbaum, Imaging Manager and Vice President of Professional Services at NMH, “Vascular testing is not new, but this system allows us to test a patient more quickly than before and give a complete report to the referring physician.  This type of testing is non-invasive, virtually painless and highly accurate at locating the site or sites and extent of a patient’s vascular disease.” 

The VasoGuard performs several tests that are designed to evaluate blood flow in the arms and legs.  The segmental pressure exam involves the use of multiple air-filled cuffs that evaluate blood pressures in segments of the legs or arms.   “It’s just like taking a standard blood pressure, but you do this in up to five places on each leg, as well as on each toe, if necessary,” Rosenbaum explained.  “If there is a significant difference in pressures between cuffs, then disease is usually present, and additional tests may be ordered.”

Other testing modes of the new system allow technologists to “listen to and look at” the quality of blood flow.  Blood flow is monitored with a small pencil-type device called a “Doppler probe.”  Doppler testing is also non-invasive and tells the technologist how fast a patient’s blood is moving and whether the flow is normal or disturbed.  Finally, a special light-emitting probe can be used to evaluate whether blood is getting to the skin surface of the fingers and toes.  This probe is called a “photo-plethysmograph” and is particularly useful in evaluating small vessel disease.

The data collected via the VasoGuard is condensed into a report that a physician can review and place into the patient’s permanent file.  This report also can be electronically stored in the patients Electronic Medical Record.  The testing is cost-effective, painless and quick.  Before a patient goes into the vascular testing laboratory, he or she will have contacted his or her physician to schedule an appointment.  It’s a good idea for the patient to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing for the exam.  A typical test takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour.

Rosenbaum said he is “very pleased that Northern Montana Hospital is able to make this new equipment available,” and he encourages patients to talk to their physician to determine if this type of testing may be right for them.
For more information on the Hospital’s new VasoGuard system, individuals should contact their physician, or may call the Imaging Department at Northern Montana Hospital, 262-1218.