skin Flashcards
(20 cards)
What causes Peripheral artery disease (PAD)? and s/s
Ischemia causes tissue breakdown in the leg. s/s - Cold, pale skin, shiny skin, hairless, diminished absent pedal pules and intermittent claudication
What is intermittent claudication?
Pain with walking or exercise, relieved when putting the leg down.
It is a symptom of PAD.
What causes an arterial ulcer? and rf
Skin ulcer due to arterial ischemia and insufficiency from atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, thromboembolism, or vasculitis.
Risk factors include PAD and thrombus.
What are the characteristics of an arterial ulcer?
Pale, clearly demarcated, dry, necrotic.
Arterial insufficiency leads to ischemia and tissue hypoxia.
What are the treatments for arterial ulcers?
Angioplasty, amputation, debridement.
Debridement is the cleaning of dead tissue from the wound.
What causes a venous ulcer?
Skin breakdown due to vein malfunction, such as varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). vines cant return blood to heart effectively so fluid leaks out causing oedema, fluid leak causes skin to breakdown
Veins cannot return blood to the heart effectively.
What are the symptoms of a venous ulcer?
Darkened skin, itchy, shallow wound, not demarcated, exudate/weeping.
Symptoms arise from fluid leakage and edema.
What are the treatments for venous ulcers?
Compression, absorbent dressings, elevate the leg.
How does a pressure ulcer develop?
Starts at compressing arteries which causes ischemia.
Before an ulcer, skin is red and blanchable.
What are the stages of pressure ulcers?
- Unbroken, red, unblanchable skin
- Partial thickness (epidermis broken)
- Full thickness (dermis involved)
- Full thickness with exposed bone, ligaments, tendons
Unstageable if covered in slough or eschar.
Deep tissue injury may appear purple.
What are the risk factors for pressure ulcers according to the Braden Scale?
- Poor sensory perception
- Moisture
- Poor activity
- Poor mobility
- Poor nutrition
- Friction and shear.
What are the treatments for pressure ulcers?
Wound care, debridement.
prevent with turning every 2 hrs and pressure relief matrisss
Prevention includes turning and repositioning every 2 hours.
What is cellulitis? and rf
Bacterial infection of the dermis or subcutaneous layer. RF venous ulcer/oedema and moisture, chemotherapy, diabetes, immune deficiency
Risk factors include obesity and venous ulcers.
What are the signs of cellulitis?
Swelling, warmth, pain on the leg, erythema.
What is the treatment for cellulitis?
Antibiotics, elevate the legs.
What mutation leads to skin cancers?
Tumor suppression gene mutates.
What is squamous cell carcinoma?
Cancer of keratinocytes in the outer epidermis, can arise from other squamous epithelium sites. RF male, blonde/red, blue/green eyes, 50+, repeated sun exposure.
metasises
Risk factors include repeated sun exposure and age.
What are the characteristics of basal cell carcinoma?
Arises from the base of the epidermis, hair follicles does not metastasize easily, slow growing. RF male, blonde/red, blue/green eyes, 50+, repeated sun exposure
What is melanoma?
Malignant tumor arising from melanocytes, highly metastatic and progressive. start as mole
Risk factors include sun exposure.
What are the characteristics of a mole vs melanoma?
A. Asymmetry
B. Uneven border
C. Multiple colours
D. Diameter larger than 1/4 inch
E. Evolving in shape and size and colour.
