Vascular

Question 1

What investigations would be carried out for someone with intermittent claudication?

Answer 1

• doppler ultrasound
• BP
• ECG
• Blood tests: FBC, U&E, lipid profile, fasting glucose
• exercise testing: foot pressure is normally raised in exercise but will be reduced in presence of occlusive arterial disease
• echocardiography: to detect cardiac emboli that may be causing distal claudication

Question 2

What is the treatment for someone with intermittent claudication?

Answer 2

LIFESTYLE:

• smoking cessation, weight loss, low lipid diet
• take care not to injure legs as healing is poor
• treat RFx -> HTN, diabetes

PHARMACOLOGICAL:

• aspirin
• ACE inhibitors

SURGERY:

• percutaneous balloon angioplasty
• stent insertion
• amputation