You may be suffering from constriction of the arteries in your legs; so-called intermittent claudication. If your arteries are constricted, the blood pressure before the constricted area will differ from the blood pressure beyond the area in question. We therefore measure your blood pressure in your ankle and your upper arm. The ratio between these two values is known as the Ankle Brachial Index (ABI).
Why do I need this exam?
The ABI can be used to determine or rule out whether the arteries in your legs are constricted. Having constricted leg arteries affects the blood flow in your legs and can lead to pain or other complaints.
What will we do?
We will measure the blood pressure in both arms two or three times. To do so, we will place a cuff around your arm and inflate it. Next, we will place a cuff around your ankle. That cuff and a Doppler device is used to measure the respective blood pressure values. This exam is entirely painless. Some people find the pressure caused by the inflated cuff somewhat uncomfortable.
Duration of the exam
The exam will take circa 20 minutes in total.
The results
Your general practitioner will inform you about the results of your examination. If the index points to a constriction, we will immediately notify your general practitioner.
