American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

In a clinical setting, a patient with an ABI less than 0.9 should be evaluated for what condition?

1. Deep vein thrombosis

2. Peripheral artery disease

3. Neuropathy

4. Myocardial infarction

The correct answer is: Peripheral artery disease

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.