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Table 1 Summary of guidelines for the measurement of the Ankle Brachial Index

From: Current utility of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) in general practice: implications for its use in cardiovascular disease screening

 

Rest period

Equipment for measurement of brachial systolic pressure

Number of brachial pulses to be assessed

Equipment for measurement of ankle systolic pressure

Ankle pulses which should be assessed

Method of calculation of the ABI

American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2005

Rest supine for 10 minutes

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

2

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

Dorsalis Pedis artery and Posterior Tibial artery.

Higher ankle systolic pressure (for that leg) divided by higher brachial pressure of the two arms.

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) 2006

Not mentioned

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

2

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

Dorsalis Pedis artery/ Anterior Tibial artery & Posterior Tibial artery. If these cannot be located, assess the Peroneal Artery

Higher ankle systolic pressure (for that leg) divided by higher brachial pressure of the two arms.

Trans-Atlantic Intersociety Consensus (TASC) 2007

Not mentioned

Doppler Instrument & sphygmomanometer

2

Doppler Instrument & sphygmomanometer

Dorsalis Pedis artery & Posterior Tibial artery.

Divide both ankle pressures by higher brachial pressures.

Society for Vascular Technology of Great Britain and Ireland (SVT) 2010

Rest supine for 5-10 minutes prior to procedure

Handheld continuous wave Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

2

Handheld continuous wave Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

Dorsalis Pedis artery & Posterior Tibial artery.

Higher ankle systolic pressure (for that leg) divided by higher brachial pressure of the two arms.

European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2011

Not mentioned

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

2

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

Posterior Tibial artery & Anterior Tibial artery.

Higher ankle systolic pressure (for that leg) divided by higher brachial pressure of the two arms.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2012

Rest supine when possible. Rest period should be “long enough for blood pressure to return to normal”

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

2

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

Three arteries, one of which must be the Peroneal artery as this “may be the only one present in some people, particularly those with diabetes”.

Higher ankle systolic pressure (for that leg) divided by higher brachial pressure of the two arms.

American Heart Association (AHA)–scientific statement 2012

Rest 5-10 minutes in supine position

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

2

Handheld Doppler ultrasound device & sphygmomanometer

Dorsalis Pedis artery & Posterior Tibial artery.

Higher ankle systolic pressure (for that leg) divided by higher brachial pressure of the two arms.