Vascular Ultrasound Diagnostic Department

The Department of Vascular Ultrasound of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, is one of the birthplaces of vascular ultrasound in China and a medical, teaching, and research center renowned both domestically and internationally. It is the Vascular Ultrasound Sub-center of the National Medical Imaging Center; the national “Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training Base” awarded by the Stroke Prevention and Treatment Project Committee of the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ultrasound Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association; the Beijing Vascular Ultrasound Diagnostic Center; and the Vascular Ultrasound Demonstration Center of the Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center of the National Health Commission. Each year, the department performs ultrasound examinations for various vascular diseases for more than 210,000 patient-visits. From structural diagnosis of vascular diseases to functional assessment, it has established a complete set of standardized examination methods that have become industry standards, issued multiple industry technical guidelines, and established China’s first professional vascular ultrasound technology platform. The department is a doctoral- and master’s-degree-granting site and a postdoctoral research station of Capital Medical University. As the cradle of vascular ultrasound professionals in China, the Department of Vascular Ultrasound of Xuanwu Hospital strictly fulfills the honorable mission of a “Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training Base.” At present, the department fully leverages its professional advantages and resource efficiency, training more than 80 physicians undergoing further study on average each year, carefully cultivating and supplying vascular ultrasound specialists to all parts of the country, injecting strong momentum into the development of vascular ultrasound nationwide, helping these professionals work independently in their localities, and benefiting local people through superb vascular ultrasound technology.

II. Introduction to the Research Team

The Department of Vascular Ultrasound Diagnosis has 30 physicians, 12 with doctoral degrees, 15 with master’s degrees, 7 with senior professional titles at the associate-senior level or above, 3 nurses, and 2 data-entry clerks.

III. Services Provided and Positioning

Specialized Diagnosis and Treatment

Integrated ultrasound assessment of the cerebral and cervical vessels; ultrasound assessment of arterial and venous diseases of the abdomen and extremities; preoperative assessment and perioperative risk monitoring for liver and kidney transplantation. Brain function assessment includes bubble testing, supine-to-standing cerebral blood-flow + beat-to-beat blood-pressure monitoring for orthostatic hypotension, dynamic regulation of cerebral blood flow, and other examinations.

Qualifications and Certifications

The Vascular Ultrasound Sub-center of the National Medical Imaging Center; the national “Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training Base” awarded by the Stroke Prevention and Treatment Project Committee of the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ultrasound Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association; the Beijing Vascular Ultrasound Diagnostic Center; and the Vascular Ultrasound Demonstration Center of the Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center of the National Health Commission.

Capabilities and Advantages in Conducting GCP Projects

The department is a qualified base for conducting GCP projects (medical devices).

IV. Services and Support

The department focuses on the following research directions: 1. Cerebrovascular and cervical vascular ultrasound; 2. Stroke-risk stratification based on the imaging characteristics of carotid plaques; 3. Brain-function monitoring, including bubble testing and dynamic regulation of cerebral blood flow; 4. Abdominal and limb vascular ultrasound.

Case-Resource Advantages:

① The number of patients is enormous. Relying on the hospital’s strong overall capabilities and regional influence, the department receives every year a large number of cases of vascular-related diseases from all parts of the country, involving many different age groups, etiologies, and levels of complexity;

② The range of diseases is extensive, covering cases of all types of vascular diseases in the arterial system, such as carotid atherosclerosis, intracranial arterial stenosis, and arteriosclerotic occlusive disease of the extremities, as well as the venous system, such as intracranial venous sinus thrombosis, jugular venous diseases, and lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis. It almost encompasses all common and difficult vascular-related conditions encountered clinically;

③ The cases are highly representative. Because the department receives a large number of referred cases of difficult vascular diseases, it has accumulated typical case resources of great reference value for diagnosis, treatment, and other aspects. This also provides a solid and powerful foundation for conducting high-quality clinical research and continuously improving diagnostic and treatment standards.

Examinations Available in the Department:

In recent years, the department has successively introduced brain-function assessments such as bubble testing, supine-to-standing cerebral blood-flow and beat-to-beat blood-pressure monitoring for orthostatic hypotension, and dynamic regulation of cerebral blood flow; as well as perioperative risk assessment for liver and kidney transplantation.