 |
- Ankle Brachial Index
This study screens for hemodynamically significant disease
and helps define its severity. The patient is placed in a supine position,
and brachial and ankle systolic pressures are obtained. The protocol
involves taking routine bilateral upper extremity pressure readings.
The higher of the systolic pressures is used to calculate the ABI. (A
lower arm pressure may indicate PVD of that arm.) Next, the cuff is
placed on the lower right calf. The Doppler (usually required because
ankle blood pressure may be inaudible with a stethoscope) is placed
behind the medial malleolus to obtain the posterior tibial (PT) systolic
pressure and then placed on the top of the foot to obtain the dorsalis
pedis (DP) systolic pressure. The ABI is calculated by dividing the
highest ankle systolic pressure (DP or PT) by the highest systolic pressure
from either arm. The process is then repeated on the left ankle.
|
 |
 |
