Photoplethysmography for the assessment of peripheral vascular disease

This chapter focuses on Photoplethysmography (PPG) and its application to peripheral vascular disease assessment of the arteries, veins, and microcirculation. A significant emphasis is placed on PPG pulse measurement and analysis for the detection of occlusive peripheral arterial disease (PAD), particularly for assessments utilizing innovative multisite pulse technology. The chapter also shows the potential of PPG for microvascular assessment including the vasospastic condition known as Raynaud's which can be secondary to an underlying medical condition. The application of PPG for peripheral venous insufficiency and reflux assessment is also overviewed. There remains great scope to advance the role of PPG in the assessment of macro- and microcirculation across a range of clinical measurement and research settings.