Bates’ Physical Assessment Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Resource to Master Your Exam!

A severe ankle-brachial index (ABI) value is generally considered to be anything below 0.50. The ABI is a measure used to assess the blood flow to the limbs, specifically in the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD). In this context, lower ABI values indicate more severe arterial blockages or peripheral vascular conditions.

An ABI value of 0.39 indicates significant impairment of blood flow, suggesting severe arterial occlusion, which can lead to critical limb ischemia and a higher risk of complications. This range of ABI values provides critical information on the severity of the vascular condition, making the identification of such low values essential for appropriate diagnosis and management.

In contrast, ABI values higher than 0.50, such as 0.65 and 0.75, are considered indicative of less severe conditions or normal blood flow, which is why they do not represent a severe state. Therefore, a value of 0.39 clearly aligns with the definition of severe arterial insufficiency.