Peripheral Vascular Special Tests

Buerger’s Test

• Assess legs for skin colour changes by elevating leg for 30 seconds, and letting it down
  • Report no pallor on elevation or rubor on dependency

Brodie-Trendelenburg

• Assess leg’s venous drainage for valve competency
• Position patient so they are in supine position. Elevate the patient’s leg and place a tourniquet around the upper thigh
• Have the patient stand up with the tourniquet on
  • Look for venous re-filling to occur within 35-60 seconds

Allen’s test

• Used to assess anastomosis of radial and ulnar arteries (collateral circulation of hand)
• Ask patient to make fist for 30 secs
• Apply pressure over radial and ulnar arteries and have patient open and close hand (hand should turn white)
• Release ulnar artery but keep radial occluded
  • Normal finding is that entire hand should turn red again (reperfuse) within 5 sec

Ankle Brachial Index

• Use doppler to assess blood pressure at ankle and arm
• Calculate ratio of ankle SBP to brachial SBP
  • >1.2 = PVD, calcification
  • 0.9-1.2 = normal
  • 0.5-0.9 = mild-moderate arterial disease
  • <0.5 = severe arterial disease