Arterial Disease Flashcards
What are the two main types of arterial limb disease?
intermittent claudication
critical limb ischaemia
When does intermittent claudication occur?
on exertion / exercise
When does critical limb ischaemia occur?
on rest
What symptoms do people with intermittent claudication have?
cramp like muscle pain in the calf, thigh and buttocks
What age range of people tend to have intermittent claudication?
> 55 years
What skin and limb problems can result from critical limb ischaemia ?
ulceration
gangrene
What changes to arteries does diabetes cause?
calcification of the arteries which make them less compliant and therefore the lumen size is smaller
What two causes can cause intermittent claudication?
atheromatous plaque
diabetes mellitus
Name three uncommon causes for intermittent claudication
- beurgers disease
- vasculitis
- hyperhomocysteinaemia
Name three main investigations that should be done for intermittent claudication
- Duplex
- Magnetic resonance angiogram
- Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) - ankle/brachial pressure (if below 0.4 then prognosis isn’t good)
What does PAD mean in terms of intermittent claudication?
peripheral arterial disease
Are patients with PAD at high risk of developing coronary heart disease?
yes
What two medications should patients with PAD be prescribed?
anti platelets - aspirin or clopidogrel
statins
What are anti platelets used for?
to thin the blood and prevent thrombus from forming
decreasing the risk of vessel occlusion
What are statins used for?
to reduce the LDLs in the blood and hence reducing the risk of atheromatous plaques from forming
also stabilises the plaque
What three other managements should be done for PAD patients other than medication?
- smoking cessation
- screen for diabetes/ manage diabetes properly
- have good control of BP (high BP can result in an embolism)
In what two conditions should the ABPI be measured at?
- during rest
- during stress
For PAD patients, a procedure called PTA is available for some patients. What does this procedure involve?
involves using a catheter to increase the diameter of the lumen by inserting a balloon and may include inserting a stent into the vessel to ensure the vessel remains open.
Can exercise therapy be used to improv the symptoms of intermittent claudication patients?
yes