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Glossary Investigation

Allen test

Also known as modified Allen test

Bedside test of the collateral circulation of the hand: the patient makes a fist while the examiner occludes both wrist arteries, the hand is opened and one artery is released; return of colour within a few seconds (six classically, nine in the modified test) shows adequate flow through the released artery. Used before radial artery harvest, it is only moderately sensitive against Doppler, so a positive test calls for duplex imaging.

Articles mentioning this term

  1. FESSH preparation

    Clinical examination of the hand and wrist

    Hand and wrist examination for FESSH candidates: how accurate the Phalen, Tinel, scratch collapse, Elson, Watson, grind, fovea and Allen tests really are.

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