Compression Finger Brachial Index (Compression FBI)

Similar to the ankle-brachial index (ABI), the Compression FBI compares the blood pressure measurements taken from the fingers with those taken at the brachial artery in the arm at rest, and again with the dialysis AVF compressed. The FBI is calculated by dividing the systolic pressure in the finger by the systolic pressure in the arm. It provides a ratio that indicates the relative blood flow and pressure in the fingers compared to the arm.

A FBI is primarily used to diagnose and assess the severity of PAD affecting the fingers. A lower FBI value indicates reduced blood flow and potential blockages in the small arteries of the fingers, similar to what the ankle-brachial index (ABI) indicates for the lower extremities. The test helps healthcare providers evaluate the adequacy of blood supply to the fingers, assess the severity of PAD in the digits, and determine the risk of complications such as non-healing wounds, infections, or tissue damage in the fingers.

This test usually takes between 15-20 minutes to complete.

 

A Finger Brachial Index Pressure Study (FBI) assesses the ratio between the blood pressure in your arm compared to the arteries in each finger. A PPG, sphygmomanometer, blood pressure cuff and hand held doppler with a pencil probe will be used for this study. We will require you to remove your jumper. We will ask you to sit down on the examination bed. We will place a blood pressure cuff and PPG around each of your fingers while inflating and deflating the cuff to determine the blood pressure. We will use the hand-held Doppler to find the arteries and then inflate/deflate the blood pressure cuff to determine the blood pressure in your arm.

A compression finger brachial index (FBI) is a non-invasive test used to evaluate the amount of blood being used by the dialysis AVF. IThis test may be performed to:

 

Assess for AVF Steal Syndrome