An ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) is a
simple non-invasive method of identifying arterial insufficiency within a limb
. It compares the ankle and brachial systolic blood pressures. An important factor determining the rate of healing of any wound is adequate arterial blood supply.
Why would you do an ABPI?
The ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) test is
widely used to diagnose PAD
, as well as assess how well you’re responding to treatment. If your circulation is healthy, the blood pressure in both parts of your body should be exactly or almost the same. This would make the result of your ABPI 1.
What is a normal ABPI reading?
An ABPI of
1.0 – 1.3 is normal
, an ABPI of <0.8 indicates a degree of lower limb arterial occlusive disease that precludes the use of high compression. An ABPI below 0.5 indicates severe disease. If your patient’s ABPI is not within the normal limits a referral to a Vascular Specialist is recommended.
What is ABPI in surgery?
The
ankle-brachial pressure index
(ABPI) is a non-invasive method of assessing peripheral arterial perfusion in the lower limbs. ABPI is a ratio composed of the blood pressure of the upper arm (brachial artery) and the blood pressure of the lower limb (dorsalis pedis and the posterior tibial artery).
How do you use a ABPI Doppler?
To calculate the ABPI, the
highest foot reading on the right foot should be taken and divided by the highest brachial reading
. Then, the same should be done for the left foot, taking the highest left- foot reading and dividing it by the highest brachial reading.
What are normal Doppler results?
Normal results indicate that
the images show no issues such as blockages or narrowing of blood vessels
. If the technician has found an irregularity, it could indicate: a blood clot. a blockage in a vein or artery, which may be a buildup of cholesterol, for example.
What are normal ABI results?
An ABI ratio
between 1.0 and 1.4 is normal
. An ABI ratio between 0.9 and 1.0 is borderline. An ABI ratio of 0.9 or less means you have PAD. An ABI ratio between 0.4 and 0.7 means you have moderate PAD.
When should you not use ABPI?
If the ABPI is
less than 0.4 compression should
be avoided and the patient referred to a vascular surgeon for surgical evaluation and/or further testing (SIGN, 2010). If an ABPI of ≥1.3 is obtained the patient should be referred to a leg ulcer clinical specialist for further review.
What should ABPI be?
In a normal individual, the ABPI is
between 0.92 and 1.3
with the majority of people having a ratio between 1 and 1.2. An ABPI above 1.3 is usually indicative of non-compressible blood vessels. An ABPI <0.9 indicates some arterial disease. An ABPI >0.5 and <0.9 may be associated with intermittent claudication.
What does an ABI tell you?
The ankle brachial index, or ABI, is a
simple test that compares the blood pressure in the upper and lower limbs
. Health care providers calculate ABI by dividing the blood pressure in an artery of the ankle by the blood pressure in an artery of the arm. The result is the ABI.
How is ABPI done?
Divide the highest ankle systolic pressure in each of the posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries
* in both feet by the highest brachial systolic pressure from each arm; the lowest resulting value is the patient’s overall ABPI.
Why is ankle blood pressure higher than arm?
Usually, arterial compliance becomes lower in the peripheral artery than in the proximal artery. This produces pulse pressure amplification, a phenomenon of SBP increase in distal arterial site. Therefore
ankle SBP is generally higher than arm SBP
, especially in middle-elderly subjects.
What does an ABPI of 1.4 mean?
European guidelines note that ABPI values of more than 1.4 may indicate
arterial stiffening (medial arterial calcification)
which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and is more common with increased age and in people with diabetes or chronic kidney disease [Aboyans et al, 2018].
When should you use a Doppler?
Your doctor may suggest a Doppler ultrasound exam if you
show signs of decreased blood flow in the arteries or veins of your legs, arms, or neck
. A reduced amount of blood flow may be due to a blockage in the artery, a blood clot inside a blood vessel, or an injury to a blood vessel.
How often should a Doppler be performed?
It is recommended that the APBI should be repeated
every 12 weeks
(Simon et al, 1994). However, if the patient’s condition changes during that time, for example if he or she experiences an increase in pain or deterioration in the condition of the ulcer, the procedure should be repeated.
What does a Doppler assessment do?
A Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive test that
can be used to estimate the blood flow through your blood vessels by bouncing high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) off circulating red blood cells
. A regular ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images, but can’t show blood flow.
