Cm. Fisher et al., VARIATION IN MEASUREMENT OF ANKLE-BRACHIAL PRESSURE INDEX IN ROUTINE CLINICAL-PRACTICE, Journal of vascular surgery, 24(5), 1996, pp. 871-875
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the Variation in a
nkle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) measurements in routine clinical p
ractice. Methods: Analysis was done of preoperative and postoperative
ABPIs in 130 limbs contralateral to those undergoing femoral bypass gr
afting in 123 patients over a 15-month period. Results: The mean initi
al ABPI was 0.72 (range 0.22 to 1.10). The range of observed differenc
es between the preoperative and postoperative ABPIs was from -0.33 to
+0.25. The mean (+SD) difference between the first and second ABPIs wa
s 0.00 (+0.11). The 95% confidence limits of the difference were -0.21
to 0.21. There was no trend for the size or direction of the differen
ce in ABPI to vary according to the mean ABPI, brachial blood pressure
, or time between tests. Conclusions: ABPI is routinely used as an obj
ective measure of peripheral vascular disease. The variation observed
in this study is comparable with values obtained in reproducibility st
udies and is greater than that accepted in clinical practice. The diff
erence between an ABPI measurement and the actual ABPI and the differe
nce between repeat single measurements are not the same and should be
distinguished. Vascular laboratories should determine the accuracy of
ABPI measurement on a local basis to guarantee and maintain quality as
surance.