MSK Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is Peripheral Vascular Disease?
It is a general term used to describe any disorder that interferes with arterial or venous blood flow of the extremities.
What is arterial insufficiency?
It refers to a lack of adequate blood flow to a region or regions of the body.
What are the causes of arterial insufficiency?
Smoking, obesity, sedentarianism, cardiac disease, diabetes, hypertension, renal disease, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides.
What is atherosclerosis?
Damage to the lining of the vessels and formation of lipid deposits.
What is arteriosclerosis?
Thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls.
What is arteriosclerosis obliterans?
A form of atherosclerosis characterized by occlusion of the arteries that cause rest pain, intermittent claudication, and tropic changes.
What are signs of arterial insufficiency?
Pale and cool skin, abnormal nail growth, little leg and foot hair, lateral malleolar wounds, overly dry and shiny skin, rest pain or intermittent claudication, decreased pulses, pallor on leg elevation, rubor legs when dependent, pain/burning sensation in the LE’s when walking, leg pain at night.
Where do arterial wounds typically occur?
Lateral malleoli, dorsum of the feet, toes.
What are the characteristics of arterial wounds?
Wound base is necrotic and pale, lacks granulation, dry gangrene, deep, dry wound bed, wounds are painful, defined borders.
What types of dressings are used for arterial wounds?
Hydrogels, foam, wet to dry gauze.
What tests assess Peripheral Arterial Disease?
Ankle Brachial Index Test (ABI), angiography (with x-rays, CT scan, and MRI), ultrasound.
What is Buerger’s test?
Testing for arterial sufficiency. Assesses for the angle that the foot becomes pale when lying down in a supine position.
Up to 90°: Remains pink color (normal), 15 to 30° (for 30-60 seconds): Becomes pale (ischemic leg), <20°: Becomes pale (severe ischemic leg).
What is the Rubor of Dependency Test?
Assesses for arterial insufficiency by looking at the color of the sole of the foot during elevation and dependency.
While the patient is supine, the tested leg is brought into 60° and held for 1 min. Normal: Sole should remain pink during both elevation and dependency. In PAD: The color changes from pale to pink and then progresses to purple-red or bright red.
