Medical Terminology for Absent Doppler Signal at Distal Pulse
The medical term for no presence of sound in Doppler at a distal pulse is "inaudible Doppler signal" or "absent Doppler signal." 1
Standard Clinical Terminology
The most widely accepted terms in clinical practice and guidelines include:
- "Inaudible arterial Doppler signal" - This is the precise terminology used in the ACC/AHA classification systems for acute limb ischemia 1
- "Absent Doppler signal" - Alternative phrasing with identical clinical meaning 1
- "Non-Dopplerable pulse" or "loss of Dopplerable arterial signal" - Used to describe the clinical finding when continuous-wave Doppler fails to detect arterial flow 1, 2
Clinical Significance and Classification Context
The absence of audible Doppler signals carries critical prognostic implications and is used to categorize limb viability in acute limb ischemia. 1
Rutherford Classification System Usage:
- Category IIa (Marginally Threatened): "Often inaudible" arterial Doppler but audible venous Doppler signals 1
- Category IIb (Immediately Threatened): "Usually inaudible" arterial Doppler but audible venous Doppler signals 1
- Category III (Irreversible): Both arterial and venous Doppler signals are "inaudible" 1
Critical Clinical Caveat:
Pulse palpation alone is highly inaccurate (>30% misdiagnosis rate), making handheld continuous-wave Doppler examination mandatory for accurate assessment. 1, 2 The loss of Dopplerable arterial signal indicates that the limb is threatened and requires urgent evaluation within 4-6 hours to prevent irreversible damage 1, 2
Prognostic Value
Absence of Doppler signals in both ankle arteries represents the strongest risk factor for predicting death, as ultrasound signals are absent only when arterial disease is far advanced. 3 When gangrene and atrophy are coupled with absent ultrasound signals, there is a 75% risk of limb loss despite attempted surgical intervention 3