Leg ulcers are commonly treated using compression therapy - bandages, stockings or Flowtron intermittent compression therapy. It is essential to establish signs of sufficient arterial supply prior to treatment.
  1. Lay patient flat for 15-20 minutes.
  2. Use doppler to determine brachial and ankle systolic pressures.
API=anlkle/brachial
 
Ankle systolic pressure (mmHg)
Brachial
systolic
pressure
(mmHg)
  30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180  
180 .16 .19 .22 .25 .27 .30 .33 .36 .38 .41 .44 .47 .50 .52 .55 .58 .61 .63 .66 .69 .72 .75 .77 .80 .83 .86 .89 .92 .94 .97 1.0 180
175 .17 .20 .22 .25 .28 .31 .34 .37 .40 .42 .45 .48 .51 .54 .57 .60 .62 .65 .68 .71 .74 .77 .80 .82 .85 .88 .92 .94 .97 1.0   175
170 .17 .20 .23 .26 .29 .32 .35 .38 .41 .44 .47 .50 .52 .55 .58 .61 .64 .67 .70 .73 .76 .79 .82 .85 .89 .91 .94 .97 1.0     170
165 .18 .21 .24 .27 .30 .33 .36 .39 .42 .45 .48 .51 .54 .57 .60 .63 .66 .69 .72 .75 .78 .81 .84 .87 .90 .94 .96 1.0       165
160 .18 .21 .25 .28 .31 .34 .37 .40 .43 .46 .50 .53 .56 .59 .62 .65 .68 .71 .75 .78 .81 .84 .87 .90 .93 .96 1.0         160
155 .19 .22 .25 .29 .32 .35 .38 .41 .45 .48 .51 .54 .58 .61 .64 .67 .70 .74 .76 .80 .83 .87 .90 .93 .96 1.0           155
150 .20 .23 .26 .30 .33 .36 .40 .43 .46 .50 .53 .56 .60 .63 .66 .70 .73 .76 .80 .83 .86 .90 .93 .96 1.0             150
145 .20 .24 .27 .31 .34 .37 .41 .44 .48 .51 .55 .58 .62 .65 .69 .72 .75 .79 .82 .86 .90 .93 .96 1.0               145
140 .21 .25 .28 .32 .35 .39 .42 .46 .50 .53 .57 .60 .64 .67 .71 .75 .78 .82 .85 .89 .92 .96 1.0                 140
135 .22 .26 .29 .33 .37 .40 .44 .48 .51 .55 .59 .62 .66 .70 .74 .77 .81 .85 .88 .92 .96 1.0                   135
130 .23 .27 .30 .34 .38 .42 .46 .50 .53 .57 .61 .65 .69 .73 .77 .80 .84 .88 .92 .96 1.0                     130
125 .24 .28 .32 .36 .40 .44 .48 .52 .56 .60 .64 .68 .72 .76 .80 .84 .88 .82 .96 1.0                       125
120 .25 .29 .33 .37 .40 .45 .50 .54 .58 .62 .66 .70 .75 .79 .83 .87 .91 .95 1.0                         120
115 .26 .30 .34 .39 .43 .48 .52 .56 .60 .65 .67 .74 .78 .82 .86 .91 .95 1.0                           115
110 .27 .31 .36 .40 .45 .50 .54 .59 .63 .68 .72 .77 .81 .86 .90 .95 1.0                             110
105 .28 .33 .38 .42 .47 .52 .57 .61 .66 .71 .76 .80 .85 .90 .95 1.0                               105
100 .30 .35 .40 .45 .50 .55 .60 .65 .70 .75 .80 .85 .90 .95 1.0                                 100
  30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180  
Recommended probe frequencies: