Arterial Diseases of the Limbs Flashcards
What does the aorta split into in the pelvis?
Iliac arteries
What does the iliac arteries split into?
Common femoral
Branches of the superficial femoral artery
Popliteal Anterior tibial Peroneal Posterior tibial Dorsalis pedis
Where do you feel the common femoral artery?
Mid inguinal point, half way between anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis
Where do you feel the popliteal artery?
Deep in popliteal fossa
Where do you feel posterior tibial pulse?
Half way between the medial malleolus and the achilles tendon
Where do you feel the dorsalis pedis pulse?
Lateral to the extensor hallicus longus tendon
Causes of critical limb ischaemia
Atherosclerotic disease of arteries supplying lower limb
Vasculitis
Buergers disease
Risk factors for critical limb ischaemia
Male Age Smoking Hypercholesteraemia HTN DM
Classification system of critical limb ischaemia
Fontaine classification
Stages of Fontaine classification of critical limb ischaemia
Stage I - asymptomatic, incomplete blood vessel obstruction
Stage II - mild claudication, pain in the limb
Stage IIA - claudication when walking > 200metres
Stage IIB - claudication when walking < 200metres
Stage III - Rest pain, mostly in feet
Stage IV - Necrosis and/or gangrene of the limb
Why would you get pain in feet at night with critical limb ischaemia?
BP drops at night and the way you are sitting - the perfusion would decrease at night and therefore cause the pain
What to ask about the claudication
Exercise tolerance Effect of incline Change over time Relieved by rest Where in the leg Type of pain Bilateral or one leg Distance they walk when it starts Rest pain
What type of pain is claudication usually?
Burning
Signs of chronic ischaemia in lower limbs
Ulceration
Pallor
Hair loss
Investigations for critical limb ischaemia
Examination Auscultate (hand held doppler) Ankle brachial pressure index (pressure) Buergers test Hang feet off edge of bed Duplex CTA/MRA Digital subtraction angiogram
ABPI in normal vasculature value
equal or > 1
ABPI in intermittent claudication
0.95 - 0.5
ABPI in rest pain
0.5 - 0.3
What is buergers test?
Elevate legs for pallor and beurgers angle, <20 degrees = severe ischaemia