How to measure Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI)

Learn how to accurately measure and calculate the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI). The ankle-brachial pressure index is used to confirm the diagnosis and quantify severity of chronic limb ischaemia.

[@KhongWeeLee-lo7fj]

Hi there! Thank you for the great video. I’d like to clarify with you regarding the sequence of systolic pressure measurements please. Does the sequence matter, e.g. (left arm, left foot, right foot and lastly the right arm)?

[@gulfamjameel1703]

No it doesn't

[@presouz5]

What kind of practitioner do I look for to do this for me?

[@SuzyQ1956]

I was sent to cardiovascular doctor

[@brucebear1]

A quick question please. I recently did an ankle/brachial check with my home BP device (I know that these aren't known for being great but mine has been consistent and seems to show small changes - such as after I mistakenly blunder into a salty meal) and I got a slightly higher reading on my ankle compared to bicep/elbow (my bicep reading usually runs about 110/60). I recently saw my cardiologist and he says that a brief check of peripheral blood vessels does not seem to show restrictions to flow and a recent coronary MRI with contrast shows a little calcification but no restrictions or blockages in coronary arteries. How is this ABPI result possible? If I'm likely doing something wrong, how can I get a more reliable check? Thank you if someone can give a comment on this.

[@michaellane2185]

The most reliable check is always with a medical professional. I would say the most likely cause of this is slight inaccuracies with equipment, but it can be common in diabetics to have an ABPI above 1 which is why it is not seen as widely reliable in this cohort. I'm sure there are other causes of calcifications of vessels that would also cause a falsely increased ABPI, but I do not know them. I want to say I'm not yet a qualified professional and you should go to one if you're worried or you're getting symptoms such as claudication. If a cardiologist said you're grand, you probably are.

[@jameshandysam]

They say anything up to 1.4 is ok, so your "slightly higher" reading should be fine. In your case a systolic pressure in your ankle up to 154 shouldn't cause any alarm.

[@Arun118Official]

bit of a late reply but I hope this helps Given that your machine is accurate, having an ABPI between 0.8 and 1.3 is perfectly fine and suggests that there is no evidence of arterial disease. Obviously this is brought to question if you do have any symptoms, which is when you should get it checked out. With age and with many conditions (notably diabetes and atherosclerotic disease), you can get calcification of the arterial vessels within your legs, which makes ABPI higher but less reliable (as the vessels don't compress as they should to give accurate results). This may be the case if you have an ABPI >1.5. I'm assuming from the wording of "slightly higher reading", that your ABPI is above 1 but not much greater, which is a normal reading. Given the other investigations that your cardiologist has undertaken, it sounds like this is not something to worry about, unless you get any new symptoms. ABPIs are usually taken to investigate these symptoms or if compression treatment is required. In this sense there isn't a huge need to repeat scans that often, the NICE guidelines suggest every 6-12 months, if they are needed at all. Again I am unaware of your own situation and condition, which are all things your cardiologist would take into account when assessing you. There are normal variations in the population (athletes will often have ABPIs >1 for example), so I would assume that your measurments are reliable (again given the machine's reliability and technique) Most of this information can be found in the NICE guidelines on this: cks.nice.org.uk/topics/leg-ulcer-venous/diagnosis/interpretation-of-abpi/

[@docsachin]

@@Arun118Official Would measuring with a automatic BP machine (in practice) be sufficient?

[@gulfamjameel1703]

Long story short: blood pressure in your legs should not be lower than in your arms. If that is the case, then blood vessels in your legs have blockage in them

[@shriramjawahar22]

thank you!

[@Francisco-jx7xc]

Every video I've seen with females presenting ABI is like 6 minutes 8 minutes....... The bro gets it done in a minute and fifty no b.s. --Thank You!!

[@olieholmes9391]

That's because women teach it better. Stop being narrow minded., grow up

[@harveyspector1463]

@@olieholmes9391 bruh for real

[@gulfamjameel1703]

Bruh 😂😂 he didn't measure the pressure in arms for convenience, that's why

[@grahamdawson7887]

That is one thing they fail to tell you of the sound.

[@user-nu1cb2qc4x]

The name of sterhoscop please

[@raavan_tusker9984]

Plethysmograph

[@uzomad]

Not a plethysmograph that looks like a fetal Doppler

[@alexisjimclemente1334]

Looks like a doppler

[@philipstather4194]

It is a vascular doppler

[@thcthczzzzzzzzzz]

How many Mhz?

[@lufknuht5960]

why are you mumbling?

[@DestyniLassiter]

I’m weak 😂

[@kozzmo2]

Sounds like he’s talking pretty clearly to me.