Vascular Examination

Which of the following is the MOST common underlying cause of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the lower limbs?

A patient reports experiencing cramping muscle pain in their calf while walking, which is relieved by rest. This symptom is MOST indicative of:

A patient with suspected peripheral artery disease (PAD) reports experiencing leg pain that worsens at night when lying down and improves when sitting or standing. This is MOST consistent with:

Which of the following findings during a vascular examination is MOST indicative of advanced ischemia?

A patient presents with the classic triad of high gluteal claudication and impotence. This presentation is MOST suggestive of which vascular condition?

A patient undergoing evaluation for upper limb ischemia is found to have dizziness, fainting, and visual disturbances, particularly with arm exercise. Which of the following conditions is MOST likely?

During inspection of a patient's lower extremities, you observe that the affected limb is paler and colder than the unaffected limb. After the patient hangs their leg down, it becomes red. This color change is MOST indicative of:

Which of the following is a key characteristic of ulcers caused by arterial insufficiency?

A patient presents with sudden pain, pallor, pulselessness, and paresthesia in their left leg. These findings are MOST consistent with:

During palpation of arterial pulses, a medical professional detects a vibration or buzzing sensation. This finding is BEST described as:

When palpating the popliteal artery, which technique is MOST appropriate for accurate assessment?

A physician is attempting to palpate the dorsalis pedis artery. Where should they MOST accurately locate this pulse?

During auscultation of a patient's abdomen, a physician hears a bruit. This finding suggests:

While performing auscultation for vascular sounds, which location would be MOST appropriate to listen for a potential renal artery stenosis?

A physician performs Allen's test on a patient. After releasing pressure on the ulnar artery, the hand does not flush within 3-5 seconds. What does this indicate?

During Ratschow's exercise test for suspected PAD, a patient performs plantar and dorsal flexion, and after hanging their feet down, the time to first redness on both legs is 8 seconds. According to the guidelines, this result would be:

Which of the following ankle-brachial index (ABI) values is indicative of moderate to severe peripheral arterial disease?

When measuring the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), a medical assistant obtains blood pressure readings in both arms and both ankles. Which of the following protocols is MOST accurate?

Compared to angiography(AG), which imaging method is LEAST invasive for vascular examination?

Acral cyanosis, migratory phlebitis, and sensitivity to cold are MOST characteristic of which of the following conditions?

Which of the following maneuvers is used to assess for compression of the neurovascular bundle in thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)?

In performing Adson's test, what indicates a positive result suggestive of thoracic outlet syndrome?

A patient presents with episodes of sharply demarcated whitening and cooling of the fingers, followed by cyanosis and redness. These color changes are MOST suggestive of:

During a vascular examination, which of the following best describes the typical flow pattern of the great saphenous vein (GSV)?

A patient reports chronic leg swelling, discomfort, and skin changes around the ankles. These symptoms are MOST suggestive of:

Which of the following activities is a significant risk factor for the development of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency?

A patient with chronic venous insufficiency reports that their symptoms are MORE pronounced in the evening, especially after prolonged standing. What is the MOST likely reason for this?

During a physical examination of a patient with suspected chronic venous insufficiency, a healthcare provider observes small, dilated intradermal venules less than 1 mm in diameter. These are BEST described as:

Which of the following physical findings is MOST characteristic of lipodermatosclerosis in chronic venous insufficiency?

A patient presents with unilateral leg swelling, pain, and tenderness along the course of a superficial vein. These findings are MOST suggestive of:

A D-dimer test is ordered for a patient with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A negative D-dimer result is MOST useful for:

In the diagnosis of DVT, venous ultrasonography reveals a vein that is dilated, noncompressible, and without blood flow. These findings are indicative of:

A patient presents with edema of the neck and upper part of the chest and colaterals. Which of the following conditions is MOST likely to be the primary cause?

A patient presents with pain and swelling in the arm following multiple attempts at intravenous catheter placement. Which of the following conditions is MOST likely?

A patient presents with recurrent episodes of inflammation in various segments of the superficial venous system without an apparent local cause. This is MOST suggestive of:

The lymphatic vessels of the upper extremities drain primarily into which of the following lymph node groups?

Unlike lymphedema, which of the following physical characteristics is MOST likely associated with lipedema?

A patient presents with chronic lower extremity swelling. On physical examination, the skin is thickened and rigid, and there is an inability to lift or pinch a skinfold at the base of the second toe. This finding is known as:

Which imaging finding is MOST suggestive of lymphedema?

A patient presents with lower limb pain exacerbated by walking, relieved with rest, and a history of smoking. Which of the following is the MOST likely underlying mechanism?

A patient with confirmed peripheral artery disease (PAD) reports experiencing constant foot pain that is worse at night and relieved by dangling their foot off the bed. This symptom is MOST likely due to:

Which of the following findings from a lower extremity examination is MOST concerning for advanced peripheral artery disease (PAD)?

A 62-year-old male presents with a history of smoking, hypertension, and diabetes. He reports pain in his buttocks and thighs when walking short distances, as well as impotence. This clinical picture is MOST suggestive of:

A young athlete complains of dizziness and visual disturbances specifically when exercising the right arm. Auscultation reveals a subclavian bruit. Which condition is MOST likely?

A patient's lower extremity is pale and cool. Upon dependent positioning, the limb turns red. What is the MOST likely cause of these color changes?

A patient exhibits a painful, deep ulcer on their toe with a 'punched-out' appearance. The surrounding skin is cool and hairless. Which etiology is MOST likely?

A patient comes to the emergency room with acute onset of severe pain, pallor, pulselessness, and paresthesia in the left lower extremity. What is the MOST appropriate initial diagnostic step?

During palpation of the femoral artery, a medical student notes a palpable rhythmic vibration. The attending physician explains that this finding is BEST described as:

What is the BEST technique for palpating the popliteal artery?

To accurately palpate the dorsalis pedis artery, you should palpate:

Which of the following MOST accurately describes the significance of hearing a bruit during abdominal auscultation?

A physician suspects renal artery stenosis in a hypertensive patient. Where should the physician auscultate to BEST assess for this condition?

Following performance of the Allen test, the hand flushes within 2 seconds after the release of the ulnar artery. What does this finding indicate regarding the patient's circulation?

During Ratschow's test, a patient exhibits delayed redness in both legs (>10 seconds) after performing plantar and dorsiflexion exercises. This finding suggests:

A patient's ankle-brachial index (ABI) is measured at 0.5. How would this result BEST be interpreted?

When performing the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), a reading of >1.4 may indicate:

Which diagnostic imaging modality is considered the gold standard for evaluating peripheral arterial disease (PAD) but is also the MOST invasive?

A patient presents with Raynaud's phenomenon, migratory superficial thrombophlebitis, and a history of heavy smoking. Which of the following is the MOST likely diagnosis?

During the evaluation for thoracic outlet syndrome, a physician performs the costoclavicular maneuver. This maneuver BEST assesses:

What finding indicates a positive Adson's test, suggestive of thoracic outlet syndrome?

A patient experiences episodes of pallor, cyanosis, and rubor in their fingers upon exposure to cold. What is the MOST likely underlying cause of these color changes?

Which of the following BEST describes the usual direction of blood flow in the great saphenous vein (GSV)?

A patient with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) reports increased leg swelling and discomfort after prolonged standing. What is the MOST accurate explanation?

Which occupation is MOST strongly associated with an increased risk of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency?

Elevating the legs typically provides relief for patients with CVI, but NOT for patients with advanced postthrombotic syndrome (PTS). Why does elevating the legs NOT typically provide relief for patients with advanced PTS?

A patient with suspected chronic venous insufficiency exhibits small, dilated intradermal venules smaller than 1 mm in diameter. These are BEST described as:

A patient with chronic venous insufficiency has developed firm, thickened skin around the ankle with a brownish discoloration. This is MOST consistent with:

A patient presents with acute unilateral leg pain, swelling, and tenderness along the medial aspect of the calf. These signs and symptoms are MOST suggestive of:

A patient with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has a negative D-dimer test result. The MOST appropriate next step is:

Which of the following ultrasound findings is MOST consistent with a diagnosis of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?

A patient exhibits edema of the neck and upper part of the chest as well as visible collateral veins in the same region. Which condition is MOST likely?

A patient presents with arm pain and swelling following multiple attempts at intravenous catheter insertion. The MOST likely venous complication is:

A patient experiences recurrent episodes of inflammation in different segments of the superficial venous system, without any identifiable local cause. This presentation is characteristic of:

The lymphatic vessels of the upper extremity primarily drain into which regional lymph node group?

A patient presents with bilateral, symmetrical swelling of the lower extremities up to the hips, with a normal Stemmer sign. The MOST likely condition is:

What physical examination finding suggests a diagnosis of lymphedema?

Atherothrombosis is a frequent cause of stenosis or occlusion in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Which of the following BEST describes atherothrombosis?

A patient reports experiencing pain in their lower extremities, specifically in the calf muscle, after walking two blocks. The pain is relieved by resting for a few minutes. This pattern is MOST consistent with:

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step after detecting a vibration or buzzing sensation through palpation of an artery?

After performing the Allen's test, the hand takes 6 seconds to flush after the release of the radial artery, but the ulnar artery is patent. This indicates:

Following a Ratschow's test, a patient has a time to first redness of 3 seconds after hanging their feet down. Next steps would include:

When measuring the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), the systolic blood pressure at the ankle level must be divided by:

A patient undergoing vascular examination complains of pain in the fingers upon exposure to cold, progressing through stages of pallor, cyanosis, and redness. This clinical scenario is MOST suggestive of:

A patient presents with chronic venous insufficiency and reports discomfort in the legs that worsens with prolonged standing and improves with elevation. This is MOST likely due to:

In the evaluation of a patient for suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using venous ultrasonography, which of the following findings is MOST indicative of a thrombus?

What is the MOST likely cause of lower limb edema with thickened, rigid skin, and Stemmer's sign?