3 Indirect Testing of Upper and Lower Extremity Arteries

Question 1

What is Plethysmography?

Answer 1

Determination of changes in volume by means of a plethysmograph.

Question 2

What is a Plethysmograph?

Answer 2

Used to record the variations in volume of an extremity OR the blood contained within or passing through it.

Question 3

Volume changes are measured directly or inferred primarily from what 2 things?

Answer 3

Changes in circumference or

Reflectivity of infrared light

Question 4

Plethysmography can measure both ___ and ____ dilation or constriction as well as what 3 things?

Answer 4

Arterial and Venous

1. Mean blood flow
2. Arterial pulsation
3. Peripheral blood pressure

Question 5

What uses air plethysmography to detect volume changes related to blood flow?

Answer 5

Volume Pulse Recording (VPR)

Question 6

What does VPR determine? (3)

Answer 6

1. whether peripheral arterial disease is present
2. Its effects on arterial perfusion to the extremity
3. segmental location of the obstruction

Question 7

Each arterial pulse creates a change in _____under a pressure cuff.
The limb volume changes result in proportional changes in the ________ in the cuffs.

Answer 7

volume; air pressure

Question 8

The VPR are monitored by a _____ transducer and recorded as a ______

Answer 8

Pressure; waveform

Question 9

THE MOST COMMON ARTERIAL DISEASE

Answer 9

Atherosclerosis

Question 10

Plaque forms in the artery to block flow by either narrowing it known as ____ or blocking it known as_____

Answer 10

Stenosis; obstruction

Question 11

What is it called when plaque or fragments of a thrombus from the heart or aneurysm loose and flow downstream

Answer 11

EMBOLI

Question 12

Temporary construction of the arteries that may cause significant discomfort

Answer 12

VASOSPASM