Patient Education
How is Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) Diagnosed?
Pulse Volume Recording/Segmental Pressures
Two additional non-invasive tests may be done to determine where an artery is occluded. The blood pressure can be tested in various locations along the limb (segmental pressures) and compared to help identify the location of a blockage. Similarly, the pulse volume can be measured and the contour and magnitude of the waves can be tracked. When performed together, these two tests are almost as accurate as an angiography. A Doppler probe can also be used to measure the velocity of blood flow which can be useful in detecting lesions that reduce blood flow or blood pressure. These tests are especially helpful in evaluating the arteries of persons with diabetes, since their arteries may not compress well enough to obtain accurate ABI of segmental pressure readings.
