International accolade recognises the institute's quality of diagnostic services and patient care provided.
PULSE Issue 44 | January 2025
Experiencing bulging veins, tired and painful legs, or numbness in the limbs? Diagnostic testing can help pinpoint the presence and severity of vascular diseases, and promptly guide you to the right treatment.
Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) are the number one cause of death in Singapore, accounting for a third of all deaths in 2023. Significantly affecting quality of life and mobility, common vascular conditions such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)1 and Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)2 can be diagnosed early through screening and imaging of blood vessels. Playing a crucial role in early detection, imaging tests such as ultrasound scans – with an accurate diagnosis from a vascular lab – are key to quickly and effectively identifying the disease, enabling timely treatment and appropriate interventions. This will help vascular specialists better manage risks and improve outcomes in patients with such impaired blood flow in their body.
Healthy blood vessels are an important part of one’s overall health – yet often neglected.
A common cause of disability and mortality in Singapore’s ageing population, vascular diseases refer to any condition that affects the network of blood vessels, and are categorised into conditions affecting either the arteries (blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart) or veins (blood vessels carrying blood to the heart).
Arterial diseases are often linked to atherosclerosis, or thickening of artery walls due to buildup of fatty plaques, while venous diseases include varicose veins and DVT.
Symptoms may vary depending on where the disease occurs, such as pain or numbness in the legs when walking, bulging veins or muscle fatigue, or gangrene in the toes and feet in the later stages. When poor blood flow occurs in the abdomen, warning signs may include pain in the abdomen, back or groin, or a gnawing and/or throbbing pain that may last for hours or days.
If you or a loved one are concerned about your risk of vascular disease, or experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, an imaging test performed at diagnostic vascular laboratories can be useful for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Through the use of vascular ultrasound scans or high-frequency sound waves, specialists can gain a detailed view of blood flow along arteries and veins throughout the body, to detect any blockages and provide an accurate diagnosis of any vascular condition. They can then administer the right treatment, which may include general management, medication and/or surgical options, etc. Such timely diagnoses are key to proper treatment procedures that accelerate the patient’s eventual recovery.
At NUHCS, a specialised team of vascular radiologists and medical technologists work alongside our vascular surgeons by reviewing scans and enabling proper interpretation of the scan findings. Skilled in the different aspects of vascular diseases and up-to-date with the latest instrumentation and vascular diagnosis techniques, their expertise enables not just coordinated patient care, but also enhanced accuracy throughout the treatment process.
First & Only Lab in Asia to Earn the Acclaimed Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) Accreditation
As the only centre in Asia to hold this accreditation, this achievement underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation in vascular imaging and our mission to enhance patient care." – Adj A/Prof Rajesh Dharmaraj, Head of Division and Senior Consultant, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS), NUHCS
Setting a new milestone in 2024, NUHCS is proud to announce that its Diagnostic Vascular Laboratory (DVL) has been internationally recognised and accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in blood vessel-related testing, in the areas of:
Such vascular testing provides doctors with valuable guidance and assists them in making clinical decisions across different fields such as vascular surgery, emergency medicine, orthopaedics and paediatrics.
Setting our team apart as experts in vascular investigation and interpretation, the IAC certification signifies the quality of the scans performed at NUHCS’ Diagnostic Vascular Laboratory and empowers our patients and referring physicians to make informed medical decisions based on them.
The accolade further reflects NUHCS’ ongoing commitment as a National Centre to excellence in medical tests and screening. Driven by a commitment to deliver the best possible care and treatment, the lab’s recognised expertise is testament to its regional leadership in blood vessel scans, and ongoing commitment to improving patient outcomes and safety.
Did You Know? The NUHCS Diagnostic Vascular Laboratory (DVL) offers a range of diagnostic services, which utilises specialised technologies to assess the body’s major blood vessels non-invasively.
"The certifications of our staff of medical technologists and IAC accreditation confirm our team’s expertise in vascular (blood vessel) ultrasound. This assurance of quality means patients and doctors can trust the scans we provide." - Dr Peter Chang, Director of NUHCS Diagnostic Vascular Lab, Department of CTVS, NUHCS
1. Deep Vein Thrombosis – common vascular disorder where blood clots form in the veins.
