8 Questions
Which factor does not influence the clinical manifestations of peripheral artery disease (PAD)?
Duration of rest
What is the primary cause of death in patients with intermittent claudication (IC)?
Myocardial infarction or stroke
Which symptom is not characteristic of intermittent claudication (IC)?
Tissue loss or gangrene
What annual percentage of patients with intermittent claudication deteriorate to the point where amputation or revascularisation is required, despite having the best medical therapy?
1-2%
What distinguishes critical limb ischemia (CLI) from intermittent claudication (IC)?
CLI involves rest pain requiring opiate analgesia
Which of the following conditions is defined by rest pain and no tissue loss with ankle pressures above 50 mmHg?
Subcritical limb ischemia (SCLI)
For patients with intermittent claudication, what is the typical onset and relief pattern of the pain?
Pain comes on after a constant claudication distance and subsides rapidly on stopping walking
Which of the following is a common symptom of critical limb ischemia (CLI) but not intermittent claudication (IC)?
Night pain requiring opiate analgesia
Study Notes
Clinical Features of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
- Clinical manifestations depend on anatomical site, presence or absence of collateral supply, speed of onset, and mechanism of injury.
Symptoms of PAD
- Intermittent Claudication (IC): ischemic pain in leg muscles precipitated by walking and relieved by rest.
- Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI): rest pain, tissue loss, and/or ulceration, present for >2 weeks, with ankle blood pressure <50 mmHg.
- Acute Limb Ischemia: sudden onset of limb pain.
- Atheroembolism: blockage of small arteries by cholesterol plaques.
- Chronic Lower Limb Ischemia: persistent reduced blood flow to the legs.
Characteristics of Intermittent Claudication (IC)
- Most common presentation of PAD.
- Pain usually felt in calf muscles, but can be in thigh or buttock if iliac arteries are involved.
- Pain occurs after a constant "claudication distance" and rapidly subsides on stopping walking.
- Patients experience a cyclical pattern of exacerbation and resolution due to disease progression and collateral development.
- Only 1-2% per year will deteriorate to require amputation and/or revascularization.
- Annual mortality rate is approximately 5%, primarily due to MI or stroke.
Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI)
- CLI: rest pain, tissue loss, and/or ulceration, present for >2 weeks, with ankle blood pressure <50 mmHg.
- Subcritical Limb Ischemia (SCLI): rest pain, no tissue loss, with ankle pressures above 50 mmHg.
- Severe Limb Ischemia (SLI): describes both CLI and SCLI.
- CLI is always due to multi-level disease, whereas IC is usually due to single-segment plaque.
This quiz covers the clinical manifestations of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), including intermittent claudication, critical limb ischemia, and more. Test your knowledge of the signs and symptoms of PAD.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
