Get Abi Worksheet

In fact, ABI ratios can be even be calculated without the use of a Doppler pen. In an emergency situation when an ABI machine or a Doppler pen is not available, you can simply grab a portable blood pressure (BP) machine.

Normal cut-off values for ABI are between 0.9 and 1.4. An abnormal ankle-brachial index- below 0.9-is a powerful independent marker of cardiovascular risk.

To calculate the ankle-brachial index, take the higher of your two systolic (top number) blood pressures from your two ankle arteries and divide that by the higher systolic blood pressure from your two arm readings. Some people use an average of each pair of readings instead of the higher number.

The ankle-brachial index test compares the blood pressure measured at the ankle with the blood pressure measured at the arm. A low ankle-brachial index number can indicate narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs. Ankle-brachial index testing might be done before and right after walking on a treadmill.

To calculate the ABPI, divide the appropriate ankle systolic pressure by the highest brachial systolic pressure (ABPI = A/B). Record the ABPI for each artery tested. toward the direction of blood flow (see figures 1 and 2).

INTERPRETATION OF ABI RESULTS PAD is graded as mild to moderate if the ABI is between 0.4 and 0.9, and an ABI less than 0.40 is suggestive of severe PAD [19]. An ABI value greater than 1.3 is also considered abnormal, suggestive of non-compressible vessels.

When taking systolic pressures in each of these areas, you follow four basic steps: Apply the blood pressure cuff. Listen for waveforms with the Doppler pen. Pump up the cuff (20 mmHg above when you hear the last arterial beat). Slowly release the pressure and record when the first arterial beat returns.