About Us

Dr. Clark W. Brazil, M.D.              

After 20 years as a practicing vascular surgeon, Dr. Brazil turned his knowledge, medical expertise and joy of patient care to the much needed area of diagnosing disease of the vascular system.

He now limits his practice to diagnosing vascular disorders of the arteries and veins with special emphasis on peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery stenosis that could lead to stroke or heart attack, abdominal aortic aneurysms and doing venous procedures limited to endovenous laser ablation, sclerotherapy and microphlebectomy for treatment of varicose veins and spider veins.

From the beginning, Dr. Brazil wanted to assure patients that they were receiving the highest quality of care.  Toward that goal, the Vascular Center of Wichita Falls has been accredited by Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC formerly ICAVL) since 2000 and has maintained that accreditation.

Why an Accredited Vascular Lab?

The Vascular Center of Wichita Falls has been an Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC formerly ICAVL) accredited vascular diagnostic lab since 2000.   Through accreditation our patients can be assured of receiving high quality patient care with the goal of promoting health care to help our patients achieve the best quality of life possible through a long-term commitment to high standards of patient care, diagnosing and monitoring.

Below is a listing of the more common disorders of the blood vessels and the possible related diagnostic test you can expect when you present to our lab with these symptoms.  These tests are discussed in detail for you under Services.  All of the following tests are non-invasive, do not involve needlesticks or injections and are painless. 

Swollen and painful legs

• Ultrasound of the veins to rule out a blood clot

Stroke or ministroke (transient ischemic attack)

• Ultrasound of the carotid arteries

Leg pain during walking (PAD or claudication)

• Multilevel segmental pressures, segmental plethysmography, Doppler waveform analysis, or
• Ankle to brachial index, segmental plethysmography, Doppler waveform analysis with duplex arterial ultrasound, or
• Ankle to brachial index (and before and after walking on a treadmill if required)

Nonhealing sore of the foot or ankle (Arterial? or Venous?)

• Multilevel segmental pressures measurements, pulse volume recording and Doppler waveform analysis, or
• Ankle to brachial index, segmental plethysmography, Doppler waveform analysis with duplex arterial ultrasound, or
• Duplex venous Doppler of the veins in the leg and standing venous duplex Doppler for reflux or chronic venous insufficiency

Follow-up of a leg artery stent or bypass graft

• Ankle-brachila index, plethysmography and Doppler waveform analysis and duplex arterial ultrasound of the leg artery

Pulsating abdominal mass

• Duplex arterial Doppler and ultrasound of the aorta

Poorly controlled high blood pressure

• Duplex arterial Doppler and ultrasound of the renal (kidney) arteries and kidneys
  

Varicose veins and leg swelling

• Duplex venous Doppler and ultrasound of the veins supine and standing with distal compression maneuvers to test for backflow of the veins

Pain and color changes of the fingers (suspected Raynaud's)

• Segmental arm pressure measurements and pulse volume recordings, Doppler analysis and possible repeat with exposure to cold and/or warming

Abdominal pain (unexplained and after eating)

• Duplex arterial Doppler and ultrasound of the arteries to your bowel.

Swelling of upper extremity (blood clot)

• Duplex venous Doppler and ultrasound of veins of your arms

Upper Extremity pain, swelling numbness

• Multilevel segmental pressures, plethysmography Doppler waveform analysis at rest and thoracic outlet testing and exercise testing
  

Basically, the specific test that you will have done during your visit to the vascular laboratory will depend on your symptoms and the suspected vascular problem.

Arterial testing and venous testing are discussed further by clicking below:

• Arterial Testing

• Venous Testing

Note that if you have concerns about your vascular health, a referral is not necessary to be seen at the Vascular Center of Wichita Falls.  Just contact us for an appointment.