The first step to identifying patients with PAD is a vascular physical examination which would include:

Patient History

Physical Examination to detect:

  • Decreased or absent pulses
  • Presence of Bruits
  • Muscle atrophy
  • Leg hair loss
  • Pallor or cyanosis
  • Cool extremities
  • Ulcers or gangrene

Diagnostic Tests, such as:

  • Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
  • Stress ABI (>25% decrease in ABIs with exercise)
  • Duplex ultrasound
  • CT angiogram
  • MRA (magnetic resonance angiography)
  • Angiography (gold standard for diagnosis and treatment)

 

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