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Automatic ankle pressure measurements using PPG in ankle-brachial pressure index determination
Objective:
To evaluate a new technique using a photoplethysmographic (PPG) probe for automatic ankle pressure measurements.
Design:
Comparative study on two techniques for ankle pressure measurement.
Setting:
University hospital.
Material:
Thirty-five patients with leg arterial disease and eight healthy volunteers. Ankle-brachial indices (ABPI) were measured using conventional CW Doppler technique and PPG-based prototype equipment for the ankle pressure recordings.
Chief Outcome Measures:
ABPIs calculated from CW Doppler and PPG ankle pressure measurements. The PPG signals were analysed both by visual judgement and by a software based, automatic algorithm.
Main Results:
The mean difference between ABPIs calculated from CW Doppler recordings and PPG (visual analysis) was -0.01 (limits of agreement (+/-two standard deviations) +0.16 to -0.19). The correlation coefficient was 0.93. When the algorithm was used, the mean difference (CW Doppler-PPG) was 0.05 (limits of agreement 0.28 to -0.18, r=0.89).
Conclusions:
The PPG method is a promising technique with an inherent potential for automatisation of the ankle pressure measurements, thereby reducing the observer-dependency in ABPI recordings.
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