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Meet the Staff | Schedule an Appointment | Ask a Question | Training | Research and Quality Improvement
The Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory (the "Blood flow lab") is one of the key components of the Maryland Vascular Center. Noninvasive testing, as the name implies, allows patients to be examined using Doppler ultrasound techniques free of the risks and discomforts of injections and/or other invasive maneuvers. These tests allow diagnosis of almost all known or suspected vascular disorders and testing can often determine the severity of the problems and the its need for treatment. A full range of noninvasive tests is available at our Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory including tests for:
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) - blockages in the circulation to the arms or legs due to atherosclerosis or other diseases, which may threaten the limbs.
Cerebrovascular Disease - blockages in the arteries to the brain that may increase the risk of stroke
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) - blood clots in the veins that could migrate to the lungs
Renal Artery Disease - circulatory disorders of the kidneys that cause hypertension (high blood pressure) or kidney failure
Mesenteric Arterial Disease - disorders of circulation to the gut
Aortic Aneurysms - a ballooning of the major artery that can cause fatal rupture
Chronic Venous Disease - varicose veins and other disorders that cause leg swelling and leg ulcers
Other specialized examinations
The Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory is a modern, uniquely designed facility to serve both inpatients and outpatients and is conveniently located in the main University Hospital. The vascular laboratory is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL).
Vascular Laboratory Staff
Director of Noninvasive Services, Maryland Vascular Center, UMMS
William R. Flinn, M.D.
Medical Director, Vascular Laboratory
Marshall E. Benjamin, M.D., RVT
Director, Neurovascular Services
Marcella Wozniak, M.D.
Technical Director
Rebecca Schilling, RDMS, RVT
The vascular laboratory provides noninvasive studies from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is also 24-hour-a-day, on-call coverage to provide emergency services.
To schedule a noninvasive examination or for further general information about the exams listed above, contact the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory at:
Phone - 410-328-5221
FAX - 410-328-8579
To ask a question, the lab can be reached at: MarylandVascularCenter@smail.umaryland.edu
The Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory is also part of the academic mission of the Division of Vascular Surgery in the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Noninvasive vascular technology is an integral part of the curriculum for vascular surgery fellows. As part of their training, vascular fellows rotate through the vascular laboratory and develop direct experience with all forms of noninvasive vascular testing. The trainee provides leadership in some of the newer and more innovative work performed by the vascular laboratory such as ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of pseudoaneurysms and duplex-guided IVC filter insertion in multiply injured trauma patients. The vascular surgery trainee also participates in the interpretation of noninvasive tests, and this overall experience allows them to be eligible for certification as a registered vascular technologist (RVT).
Regular CME conference activities are also provided for surgery residents, medical students, and vascular technologists. The vascular laboratory also provides each technologist with the opportunity to be cross-trained in all aspects of noninvasive vascular testing, affording them a broad, comprehensive experience with the complex studies performed in our center.
Noninvasive vascular testing is most often used to diagnose vascular disorders and assess their severity. However, many of these tests can also be used to measure the effect and success of treatments. Testing after vascular surgery procedures can determine if the vessel has been restored to normal or measure the magnitude of improvement in the flow. As time passes, these tests can also be used to document the durability of a treatment or compare one treatment two another (e.g. angioplasty vs. bypass). In these ways, the noninvasive vascular laboratory also contributes to the clinical research mission of the Division of Vascular Surgery, and to its commitment to quality improvement in patient care through outcome assessments.
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