RVT Peripheral Arterial Physiologic Testing 2

Question 1

A patient with claudication has an ABI of 0.62 at rest. After treadmill exercise, the ABI drops to 0.31 and takes 8 minutes to recover. What does this pattern indicate?

Accepted Answer

Moderate-to-severe arterial disease with poor collateral compensation

Answer

A post-exercise ABI drop >20% with prolonged recovery (>3 minutes) indicates hemodynamically significant arterial disease with inadequate collateral circulation.

Question 2

Which waveform characteristic on PVR (pulse volume recording) is MOST consistent with proximal aortoiliac occlusive disease?

Accepted Answer

Flat, broad waveform with absent dicrotic notch throughout the limb

Answer

Aortoiliac disease produces diffusely flattened, broadened PVR waveforms throughout the entire lower extremity due to inflow obstruction affecting all segments.

Question 3

During segmental pressure testing, a 30 mmHg pressure gradient is found between the proximal thigh and above-knee segments. Where is the disease most likely located?

Accepted Answer

Superficial femoral artery

Answer

A gradient >20 mmHg between proximal thigh and above-knee cuffs localizes disease to the superficial femoral artery in the mid-thigh region.

Question 4

A diabetic patient has non-compressible tibial arteries with ABIs >1.3. Which alternative test is MOST reliable for assessing arterial perfusion in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Toe-brachial index (TBI)

Answer

The toe arteries are typically spared from medial calcification in diabetics, making the TBI the preferred non-invasive pressure index when ABIs are non-compressible.

Question 5

What is the normal toe-brachial index (TBI) value in a healthy adult?

Accepted Answer

>0.60

Answer

A normal TBI is ≥0.70 in most references, with values below 0.60 generally considered abnormal and indicating significant digital arterial disease.

(RVT) Registered Vascular Technologist Practice Test

(RVT) Registered Vascular Technologist Practice Test

RVT Peripheral Arterial Physiologic Testing 2