Are ankle and toe brachial indices (ABI-TBI) obtained by a pocket Doppler interchangeable with those obtained by standard laboratory equipment?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine if the ankle and toe brachial indices obtained by an experienced registered nurse (RN) using a pocket Doppler were within acceptable levels of agreement with those obtained by a registered vascular technologist (RVT) using standard laboratory equipment.


METHODS
A within-subjects comparative design was used.


METHODS
Thirty subjects who were referred to a vascular laboratory for arterial studies were recruited. All tests were performed in the outpatient vascular laboratory of a large, urban medical center.


METHODS
Ankle and toe brachial indices were measured on each subject by the RN and the RVT during each visit. Data were analyzed using the Bland-Altman method to assess the level of agreement between the RN's pocket Doppler and the RVT's standard laboratory equipment.


RESULTS
Differences between each instrument's ankle brachial indices were within the a priori 15% limit of agreement. Differences between each instrument's toe brachial indices exceeded the a priori 15% limit of agreement.


CONCLUSIONS
The ankle brachial index obtained by using a pocket Doppler by an experienced RN is interchangeable with vascular laboratory testing for detection of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). The pocket Doppler-derived toe brachial index was not interchangeable with vascular laboratory testing for detection of LEAD.
Bonham
Phyllis A
PA
Wound Care Education Program, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA. bonhamp@musc.edu
Cappuccio
Marguerite
M
Hulsey
Tara
T
Michel
Yvonne
Y
Kelechi
Teresa
T
Jenkins
Carolyn
C
Robison
Jacob
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D015982:Bias; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017156:Photoplethysmography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014034:Toes / Q000098:blood supply*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards