🩺 ABPI (Ankle–Brachial Pressure Index) Template

❓ Why is this important?

• Assessing peripheral arterial disease

• Determining suitability for compression therapy in patients with leg ulcers or venous disease

• Identifying when referral to vascular services or specialist clinics is needed

• Documenting consent, baseline observations, and lifestyle advice for continuity of care

📊 High-level overview of the specification requirements

• Providing patient information and recording consent

• Capturing baseline observations and Doppler pressures at arm and ankle sites

• Recording ABPI results and automated interpretation ranges

• Documenting suitability for compression therapy

• Adding referrals and lifestyle advice where indicated

📌 What do you need to know?

📑 Local Enhanced Service (LES) Section

• Where a Local Enhanced Service exists, the coded activity section is automatically added at the top of the template.

• This ensures practices can claim activity without switching to a separate template.

• The template also provides direct links to patient leaflets and consent forms.

📝 Education and Consent

• Confirm patient information provided

• Record consent (Yes/No)

🧾 Baseline Observations

• Doppler ultrasound completion

• Blood pressure

• Pulse rate and rhythm

📉 Doppler Systolic Pressures

• Brachial: record both arms and highest reading

• Right ankle: dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial, anterior tibial, peroneal pressures + waveform

• Left ankle: dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial, anterior tibial, peroneal pressures + waveform

• Enter highest ankle pressure for each side

📊 ABPI Recording

• Right and left ABPI results

• Template provides automated interpretation:

  • <0.5 = Severe arterial disease (urgent referral)

  • 0.5–0.8 = Significant arterial disease (specialist review)

  • 0.8–1.0 = Mild disease (reduced compression with caution)

  • 1.0–1.3 = Normal ratio (full compression suitable)

  • 1.3 = Refer to specialist nurse

👣 Compression Therapy

• Confirm suitability: full / reduced / unsuitable

• Record if measured for graduated compression hosiery

📑 Referrals

• Options include: vascular service, tissue viability/leg ulcer clinic, podiatry, or other service

• Record if no referral required

💬 Lifestyle Advice

• Lifestyle

• Smoking cessation

• Exercise

• Medication optimisation

💡 Hints and Tips

• Always record consent and information provided – protects against complaints and ensures patient understanding

• Use the highest brachial and highest ankle pressures for accurate ABPI calculation

• Automated interpretation prompts next steps – but still apply clinical judgement

• Compression should only be applied after documented ABPI

• Provide lifestyle advice consistently – key for long-term vascular health