ACUTE LIMB ISCHAEMIA

Question 1

What are the 6 P’s of acute limb ischaemia?

Which are the last 2 to present?

Answer 1

• pulselessness, pallor, parasthesia, perishingly cold, painful, paralysed
• parasthesia and paralysis

Question 2

What is ABPI and what are the reference ranges?

Answer 2

• ankle brachial pressure index
• 1.2-1.4 Calcification of arteries
• 0.9-1.2 Normal
• 0.8-0.9 Mild PAD
• 0.5-0.8 Moderate PAD
• <0.5 Severe PAD

Question 3

What is the medical management of acute limb ischaemia prior to surgical intervention?

Answer 3

• 5000 IU loading dose of heparin
• Followed by 18/u/kg/h

Question 4

What is the classification used to distinguish severity of acute limb ischaemia?

Answer 4

Rutherford classification

Question 5

In acute limb ischaemia what si the timeframe to treatment before risk of irrepairable harm?

Answer 5

4-6 hours