Arterial Diseases of the Limbs Flashcards

1
Q

What does the aorta split into in the pelvis?

A

Iliac arteries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the iliac arteries split into?

A

Common femoral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Branches of the superficial femoral artery

A
Popliteal 
Anterior tibial 
Peroneal 
Posterior tibial 
Dorsalis pedis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Where do you feel the common femoral artery?

A

Mid inguinal point, half way between anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic symphysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Where do you feel the popliteal artery?

A

Deep in popliteal fossa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where do you feel posterior tibial pulse?

A

Half way between the medial malleolus and the achilles tendon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where do you feel the dorsalis pedis pulse?

A

Lateral to the extensor hallicus longus tendon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Causes of critical limb ischaemia

A

Atherosclerotic disease of arteries supplying lower limb
Vasculitis
Buergers disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Risk factors for critical limb ischaemia

A
Male
Age
Smoking
Hypercholesteraemia
HTN
DM
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Classification system of critical limb ischaemia

A

Fontaine classification

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Stages of Fontaine classification of critical limb ischaemia

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why would you get pain in feet at night with critical limb ischaemia?

A

BP drops at night and the way you are sitting - the perfusion would decrease at night and therefore cause the pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What to ask about the claudication

A
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What type of pain is claudication usually?

A

Burning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Signs of chronic ischaemia in lower limbs

A

Ulceration
Pallor
Hair loss

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Investigations for critical limb ischaemia

A
Examination 
Auscultate (hand held doppler)
Ankle brachial pressure index (pressure)
Buergers test 
Hang feet off edge of bed 
Duplex 
CTA/MRA
Digital subtraction angiogram
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

ABPI in normal vasculature value

A

equal or > 1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

ABPI in intermittent claudication

A

0.95 - 0.5

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

ABPI in rest pain

A

0.5 - 0.3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is buergers test?

A

Elevate legs for pallor and beurgers angle, <20 degrees = severe ischaemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What would you see if the feet are hung off the bed in claudication and what is this called?

A

Slow to regain colour and a dark red colour as the blood rushes in and the feet become red
Hyperaemic sunset foot

22
Q

1st line investigation for critical limb ischaemia

A

CTA/MRA

23
Q

Definition of emboli

A

A blood clot, air bubble, piece of fatty deposit or other object which has been carried in the bloodstream to lodge in a vessel and cause an embolism

24
Q

Definition of thrombus

A

A blood clot formed in situ within the vascular system of the body and impending the blood flow

25
Q

Sources of arterial embolus

A

MI
AF
Proximal atherosclerosis

26
Q

Causes of acute limb ischaemia

A
Arterial embolus
Thrombus 
Trauma
Dissection 
Acute aneurysm thrombosis i.e. popliteal
27
Q

Presentation of acute limb ischaemia

A

6 Ps!!!

  • Pain
  • Pallor
  • Perishingly cold
  • Paraesthesia
  • Paralysis
  • Pulseless
28
Q

Irreversibility will occur how long after symptoms present in acute limb ischaemia?

A

> 6 hours

29
Q

Pathology of compartment syndrome

A

Muscle ischaemia
Inflammation
Oedema
Venous obstruction

30
Q

Presentation of compartment syndrome of lower limb

A

Tense, tender calf

31
Q

What is raised in compartment syndrome?

A

Creatinine kinase

32
Q

Management of acute limb ischaemia

A
ECG
Bloods 
Analgesia
Anticoagulation
Suspicion of embolus - embolectomy 
Suspicion of thrombus - thrombectomy/thrombolysis, open embolectomy +/- bypass 
Amputation
Palliation
33
Q

Mortality of amputation

A

20%

34
Q

What % of acute limb ischaemia is due to emboli and to thrombus?

A

30% emboli

60% thrombosis

35
Q

Mortality of acute limb ischaemia

A

22%

36
Q

What % of patients with DM will develop a foot ulcer?

A

15%

37
Q

What is key in managing diabetic foot ulcers?

A

Prevention

38
Q

Prevention of diabetic foot ulcers

A

Footcare
Glycaemic control
Good wound care
Tracking infection (consider systemic Ax)

39
Q

Pathology of diabetic foot disease

A

Microvascular peripheral artery disease affecting capillary beds - stiffening of capillaries, inflammation etc
Peripheral neuropathy - risk of trauma - standing on things without realising etc
Mechanical imbalance - pressure points in odd places and tissue damage in these areas
Susceptibility to infection (via normal skin commensals)

40
Q

Footcare in DM

A

Always wear shoes
Check fit
Check pressure points / plantar surface of foot regularly
Prompt and regular wound care of skin breaches

41
Q

What should be investigated for in diabetic foot disease?

A

Osteomyelitis
Gas gangrene
Necrotising fasciitis

42
Q

Management of chronic limb ischaemia

A
Anti-platelet 
Statin 
BP control 
Smoking cessation 
Exercise
Diabetic control 
Angioplasty/stent 
Surgical bypass
Endovascular reconstruction
43
Q

What can be used as a surgical bypass?

A

Femoral popliteal bypass
Femoral distal bypass to calves
Anatomical bypass - aorta to both femorals
Extra anatomical bypass
Axillo anatomical bypass (axilla to femoral))

44
Q

What does a surgical bypass require?

A
Inflow above the blood flow
A conduit 
- autologous 
- synthetic 
Outflow
45
Q

Complications of surgical bypass

A
Bleeding
Wound infection 
Pain 
Scar
DVT / PE / MI 
Death (2%)
Damage to nearby structures
Graft failure (stenosis / occlusion)
Distal emboli
46
Q

ABPI in diabetics

A

Higher

47
Q

What may T2DM have to do with their vessels and therefore how does this effect their ABPM?

A

Vessel classification

Abnormally high ABPM readings

48
Q

What is Buergers disease also known as?

A

Thromboangiitis obliterans

49
Q

What is buergers disease?

A

Small and medium vessel vasculitis that is strongly associated with smoking

50
Q

Features of buergers disease

A
Extremity ischaemia 
- intermittent claudication 
- ischaemic ulcers 
Superficial thrombophlebitis 
Raynauds phenomenon