Ace the ABS QE: Rock Your American Surgery Exam 2025!

An Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) value of less than 0.9 is indicative of peripheral artery disease (PAD). This condition arises from narrowed or blocked arteries that reduce blood flow to the limbs, which often leads to symptoms such as claudication (leg pain during exertion) and an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

The ABI is a simple, non-invasive test that compares the blood pressure in a patient’s ankle with the blood pressure in their arm. A lower ABI suggests peripheral artery occlusion, as it reflects inadequate blood flow in the legs due to arterial narrowing or blockages.

While deep vein thrombosis, neuropathy, and myocardial infarction are important conditions to consider in a clinical setting, they are not directly indicated by a low ABI reading. Deep vein thrombosis involves thrombus formation in deep veins, which would not show an ABI change. Neuropathy pertains to nerve damage that may or may not be associated with blood flow variations, and myocardial infarction is related to coronary artery disease, typically evaluated through other means. Thus, evaluating a patient with an ABI less than 0.9 primarily points towards the presence of peripheral artery disease.