The Validity of Some Conventional Methods for the Diagnosis of Obliterative Arterial Disease in the Lower Limb as Evaluated by Arteriography

Arteriograms from 132 limbs in claudicating patients were compared with the results of oscillography, venous occlusion plethysmography, skin temperature measurements, and digital pulse plethysmography. Arterial pulse curve analysis proved to be particularly sensitive to non-obstructive arteriosclerosis. In distinguishing between normal and obstructed limbs, oscillography demonstrated less overlapping than peak flow determinations. The results of both methods were correlated to the degree and length of the main leg artery obstruction. Walking tolerance could not be predicted from any of the actual methods.