Med-Surg Week 5: Vascular Disorders

Questions and Answers

lack of blood flow and lack of oxygen

True

All of the above

smoking, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, age, sex Signup and view all the answers

Iliac = Buttocks and thighs claudication Femoral or Popliteal = Calves claudication Signup and view all the answers

dog Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Can lead to impaired perfusion, resulting in ischemia, which is a reversible cellular injury caused by a lack of blood flow and oxygen.
Ischemia can progress to infarction or necrosis, which is the death of tissue with an inability to regenerate.

Arteriosclerosis: the walls of arteries become hardened, which occurs with aging.
Atherosclerosis: the accumulation of lipids, blood components, and other cells on the innermost layer of the arterial wall.
Emboli: a clot in an artery.

Narrowing of the arteries in the upper and lower extremities
Related to other cardiovascular diseases
Higher risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease, coronary events, and stroke
Causes: atherosclerosis, lipid accumulation, connective tissue deposits, muscle cell replication, and immune cell infiltration

Often no symptoms until 60-75% of the vessel is occluded
Symptoms depend on the site of PAD
Classic manifestation: intermittent claudication, which is an ischemic muscle ache or pain that is precipitated by constant exercise and relieved with 10 minutes of rest

Doppler ultrasound to map blood flow
Segmental blood pressures while the patient is supine
Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) to determine the ratio of BP in the upper extremity vs. the lower (ankle/brachial)

Protect from further trauma and provide good foot care
Decrease ischemic pain
Provide proper wound care and prevent/control infection
PAD/CVD prevention measures
Consider revascularization therapies, such as bypass grafting or removal of obstructive plaque, with amputation as a last resort