Tag: Atys SysToe

SysToe, an accurate option for the diagnosis and evaluation of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to head, organs, and limbs.

Limitations of Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)

The Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) test has been in use for diagnosis and evaluation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) for over half a century. Nevertheless, it is not without its issues.

  • Training is required before the operator is able to carry out reliable measurements
  • Some patients feel pain in the leg during cuff inflation
  • It takes time to perform the measurement
  • False values can result from medial calcification of the tibial/peroneal arteries which may prevent the measurement of ABI.

Why measure Toe Systolic Pressure?

The toe arteries are affected by medial calcification later than the leg arteries. The toe systolic pressure can be measured to circumvent the problem of medial calcification of the tibial/peroneal arteries.

Toe pressure measurements show a good agreement with ABI and remain measurable and reliable in patients with arterial wall calcification.

Does the measurement of toe systolic pressure using SysToe improve the diagnosis and reliability of diagnosis?

The SysToe is easy to use, quick and fully automatic and not operator dependent. It improves clinical evaluation and follow-up of PAD in every day practice.

SysToe drastically improves the reliability of distal toe pressure measurement, especially in diabetic and chronic renal failure patients, since the measurement of ankle pressure and ankle brachial index may be difficult or impossible in these patients because of medial calcification.

As a fully automated, totally non-invasive and painless (unlike ankle pressure measurement)  technique, systolic toe pressure measurement with SysToe is easily performed outside the Vascular Lab by Diabetologists, Podiatrists and General Practitioners for the follow-up of patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Therefore, the use of more expensive examinations (such as complete duplex Doppler ultrasound of lower limb arteries) can now be reduced. The use of a SysToe can have major clinical care pathway advantages and cost savings as well as saving patient assessment time.

PMS customers use the SysToe for

  • Assessment and diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease
  • Diagnosis of critical limb ischemia
  • Follow up of diabetic patients, patients with chronic renal failure, elderly patients
  • Assessment of healing potential of ulcers

SysToe – Putting your Patient’s Feet First

In this digital day and age, you might not be surprised to hear me ask if you’ve had your digital pressure taken recently? Of course, I mean your toe and finger pressure – simple to forget but important not to ignore.

Today, we’re specifically talking about Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), which is when the arteries to the legs get either completely or partially blocked, most commonly due to atherosclerotic (cholesterol) plaques. These blockages lead to intermittent claudication, a leg pain in the patient’s calf as a result of walking, which eases at rest. Many might consider this calf pain as fairly normal, and ignore the symptoms, especially if they felt normal again when resting. If Peripheral Arterial Disease is left unchecked, it may become more advanced, eventually leading to pain at rest, leg ulcers and even gangrene.

PAD has previously been diagnosed with a physical examination by a GP, who would compare blood pressure in the patient’s arm and ankle. A difference in the two readings would be a possible indication of PAD. Whilst this technique has been in use for over half a century, it comes with problems; most notably the need for operator training and that the patient can experience some discomfort throughout the process. We now have the ‘SysToe’ machine, meaning PAD can be quite easily diagnosed with a simple reading of the Toe Brachial Index (TBI). This reading can also be used following diagnosis to track disease and help aid recovery.

So why is the SysToe system so great?

The SysToe system is a fully automated clinically validated patented device. It is not operator dependent so gives reliable and repeatable measurements. This not only saves on NHS time and money, but also helps to create more accurate diagnosis than ever before. It’s the full automation which make the SysToe so great; once the cuff and the sensor are placed on the toe (an easy job for anyone to do), just press the START button for cuff inflation and deflation to take place at the data value displayed within three minutes.

For the quick assessment of lower limb arterial diseases, the SysToe is a must have piece of equipment. Fast measurements, accurate and reproducible results, time & money saving; can your surgery or clinic not afford to have one?