Concurrent Validity of Digital Vascular Auscultation for the Assessment of Blood Flow Obliteration on the Radial Artery in Healthy Subjects

This study aimed to determine the validity of digital vascular auscultation for the assessment of changes in the radial pulse in healthy subjects, using Doppler sonography as a validated test referent. Sixty-one non-symptomatic subjects (mean age of 52.5 ± 16.1 years) were assigned and evaluated under one of the following conditions: In condition 1, blood flow of the radial artery was not modified; for condition 2, blood flow of the radial artery was modified using a pressure sleeve around the humerus. The radial pulse was then measured three times with each diagnostic tool by three different blinded evaluators. Both instruments demonstrated a high association between the identification of blood flow modifications or not and the assigned condition (p < 0.001). A strong concordance between the two devices when detecting the “changes” or “no changes” in blood flow was demonstrated (k = 0.936, p < 0.001). Stethoscope sensitivity was 95%, and specificity was 99%. In conclusion, digital vascular auscultation seems to be a valid technique to examine blood flow changes of the radial artery in non-symptomatic subjects, and it could be useful for physical therapists when combined with provocative tests for the screening of possible thoracic outlet syndrome in patients.