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The
standard definition of PAD is created by an abnormal value of the ankle-brachial
index (ABI). The ABI is a measurement performed with an electronic stethoscope
and a simple office blood pressure cuff. This test measures the blood pressure
at the ankle and at the arm, and the physician can easily compare the pressure
at these two sites. A blood pressure that is lower in the ankle than the arm
implies a blockage in the artery between the heart and the leg. Such a blockage
represents peripheral arterial disease. A recent study shows that the ABI test
is not performed as often as it should be.
Several tests may be required to diagnose PAD and determine the extent of
the disease:
- Medical history
and physical exam
- Ankle-brachial
test
- Treadmill exercise
test
- Reactive hyperemia
test
- Segmental pressure
measurements
- PVR waveform
analysis
- Duplex arterial
imaging or ultrasound imaging
- Photoplethysmography (PPG)
- Anteriogram
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