Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) Practice Exam

What does an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) reading of 1.0 indicate?

1. Normal blood flow

2. Severe ischemia

3. Borderline perfusion

4. Elevated pressure

The correct answer is: Normal blood flow

An Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) reading of 1.0 indicates normal blood flow in the limbs. The ABI is a comparison of the blood pressure in the patient's ankle to the blood pressure in the arm. A reading of 1.0 suggests that there is no significant difference in these pressures, which typically means that blood flow to the lower extremities is adequately maintained and there are no signs of peripheral arterial disease. In clinical practice, an ABI value between 0.9 and 1.2 is generally considered normal. Values below this range may indicate varying levels of arterial occlusion or ischemia, while values above this range need clinical consideration regarding possible elevated pressure or conditions like diabetes or hypertension. Thus, a reading of 1.0 confirms the presence of normal perfusion without the complications related to poor blood flow.