Programa de
Insuficiencia
Cardíaca Congestiva
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Procedimientos
VASCULAR STUDIES –2: SEGMENTAL BLOOD PRESSURE TESTING
In addition to ultrasound imaging, the leg arteries are evaluated by taking the cuff blood pressure at different levels: high thigh, low thigh, calf and ankle. This will indicate location and severity of the blockages. The blood pressure is normally equal in all four extremities. If one or more blockages develop, the blood pressure will drop in the affected level of the leg.
The severity of the patient’s symptoms correlate with the BP in the affected leg when compared with the arm blood pressure (referred as ankle-brachial index or ABI). If the BP is 100 mmHg in both arms and 50 mmHg in the right leg, then the right ABI is 0.5. If the blood pressure in the left leg is 70 mmHg, then the left ABI is 0.7. Although the resting ABIs are good indication of the severity of the arterial insufficiency, the ABIs taken immediately after walking exercise are the best correlate to the severity of leg pain and very important information when recommending the different treatment options. For example a patient with resting ABI of 0.81 is considered to have mild occlusive arterial disease. However, if his or her post exercise ABI drops to 0.35 after walking 2 minutes will indicate a moderate to severe problem. The situation would be very different if the ABI drops only to 0.72 after 5 minutes of walking. The treatment options would be different in these two situations.
These tests are also helpful to follow the patient’s progress and to assess the results of angioplasty or bypass surgery.
Our physicians will evaluate your complete cardiovascular system (both your heart and circulatory problems) and individualize the best treatment possible for you, emphasizing a non-surgical approach when possible.
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