What is the ABI?
ABI, also called Ankle-Brachial Index test, is a test which compares the blood pressure in your ankles to the blood pressures in your arms. It determines if your legs are getting the proper amount of blood supply.
How is the ABI done?
You’ll lie on your back, while we will place blood pressure cuffs on your ankles and arms. Then put a small amount of jelly on your ankles and arms, and a device called a transducer or probe. The blood pressure cuffs will inflate and recordings will be taken of your ankles and arms. The test will take about 20 minutes.
Results
The ABI test gives Dr. Kohani useful information in determining if there is adequate blood supply to your legs while determining if there may be a narrowing of the vessel that carries blood to the legs.
What is the PVR?
PVR Doppler, also called Pulsed Volume Recording Doppler, is a test which compares the blood pressure in your legs to the blood pressure in your arms.
It is a safe and painless test that helps us determine if your legs are getting the proper amount of blood supply. If you have been experiencing leg cramping when you walk, the PVR can be performed on a treadmill to test how much blood flows to your legs during exercise.
How is the PVR Doppler done?
You’ll lie on your back, while we place several blood pressure cuffs on each of your legs and both arms. Then we put a small amount of jelly on a transducer or probe. The blood pressure cuffs will inflate and recordings will be taken of your legs and arms. The test will take about one hour.
If Dr. Kohani orders the exercise portion of the test, you will have resting pressures done, then you will walk on the treadmill for approximately five minutes and we will record pressures after exercise.
Similar to a stress test, you may also have several electrodes placed on your chest so that the physician may monitor your heart activity while you exercise.
The PVR Doppler gives Dr. Kohani useful information in determining if there is adequate blood supply to your legs while determining if there may be a narrowing of the vessel that carries blood to the legs.
