The optimal positioning for viewing the aorta and iliac vessels includes the following:

• Place the patient in the supine position with the head slightly elevated for comfort.
• The lateral decubitus position may be useful when supine acoustic windows prove inadequate, especially in individuals with a large abdominal girth. This position will allow the abdomen to fall forward, thereby, decreasing the depth of the vascular structures being evaluated.
• The upright position may be utilized to aid in visualization of the proximal aorta region by using the liver as an acoustical window.