Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Lower Extremity Arterial Revascularization-Post-Therapy Imaging

Abstract

The goal of endovascular angioplasty and of surgical bypass is to restore normal blood flow to the diseased arteries in the legs for individuals with peripheral artery disease. Both procedures need imaging follow-up to check for lesions, typically narrowing of arteries that may come back and cause symptoms. Often, noninvasive testing is done first to help choose the appropriate imaging test. The first test is usually measurement of the ankle-bronchial index (ABI), a noninvasive test where blood pressure cuffs are placed on the legs to measure local pressures. Other noninvasive tests can also be used.