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The Barbeau Test

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In comes the Barbeau test.

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What's the Barbeau test?

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This is very similar to the modified Allen's

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test, but the difference here is that

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we apply a pulse oximeter to the thumb.

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And so, same thing, compressive forces.

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And, you know, what we're sort of trying to look

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at is we're looking at the changes in amplitude

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of the pulse waveform and oxygen saturation.

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The degree of waveform alteration is rated A

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through D based on the degree of collateral

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flow between radial and ulnar arteries.

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Here we see sort of diminutive,

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hyperperfused region.

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And what we're looking at here is just

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realizing that this Barbeau test is actually

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particularly accurate, particularly sensitive

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than the Allen's test, which is why we use it.

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So Barbeau types and waveforms.

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So we talked about A through D.

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What we're looking at here is sort of normal.

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Start of oximetry, okay, nice, good waveform.

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After oximetry, nice, good

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waveform, excellent collaterals.

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Superficial palmar arches, exquisite.

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So B, initially blunted, okay, returns

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to normal after about two minutes, okay.

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So this is something that, you know, after about

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two minutes, this is particularly good, right?

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So, a little blunted before, not

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so blunted now, good collaterals.

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Not excellent, but good, because

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it was blunted initially.

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Now, if there's complete loss initially,

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with return to a dampened waveform after two

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minutes, then I would say Houston should be

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told that there might be a little problem.

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But, you know, not well collateralized,

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but, you know, just be mindful.

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Still a candidate, but then D is kind of

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like, you know, this is when the horse leaves

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the barn before you wake up in the morning.

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It's gone, it's gone.

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So no waveform, which persists beyond two minutes.

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So this just means that isolated

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circulation between the ulnar and

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the radial arteries, and so this is a

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contraindication to radial artery access.

Report

Faculty

Mikhail CSS Higgins, MD, MPH

Director, Radiology Medical Student Clerkships; Director, ESIR

Boston University Medical Center

Tags

Vascular Imaging

Vascular

Ultrasound

Interventional

Iatrogenic

Fluoroscopy

Angiography

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