Chapter 26 Clinical Flashcards
Vascular Peripheral Circulation - Disorders
Pump failure means:
inefficient pump/ contractile force
HFrEF/ systolic HF
HF with left ventricular ejection fraction
Causes blood accumulation in lungs
Reduction in forward flow/ CO
= inadequate arterial flow to tissues
HFpEF, diastolic HF
HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction
Systemic venous congestion
Reduction in forward flow
Blood vessels must be:
intact, patent, and responsive
Arterial Occlusion/ Arteries become damaged or obstructed
(6 factors):
Atherosclerotic plaque
Thromboembolus
Chemical or mechanical trauma
Infections or inflammation
Vasospastic disorders
Congenital malformations
Arterial Occlusion (Sudden)
profound and irreversible tissue ischemia and tissue death
Arterial Occlusion (Gradual)
less risk for tissue death, able to form collateral circulation (opp. to adapt to gradual blood flow decrease)
Venous Occlusion, causes:
Thromboembolus, incompetent venous valves, reduced pumping action
Edema, formation:
dec. venous blood flow – inc. venous pressure – fluid out of capillaries into interstitial space
Edematous tissue is prone to:
breakdown, injury, infection
due to inadequate nutrition = cell death
Peripheral Vascular Disease, type and severity depend on:
type, stage, extent of disease process, progression speed
Peripheral Vascular Disease, prognosis:
Ischemia (most)
Peripheral Vascular Disease, similar symptoms:
pain, skin changes, diminished pulses, possible edema
Characteristics of Arterial Insufficiency
Pain: intermittent claudication to sharp, unrelenting, constant
Pulses: diminished, absent
Skin: dependent rubor, elevation pallor
Edema: dry, shiny skin; cool to cold temp; loss of hair (toes, dorsum), thickened and ridged nails
Characteristics of Venous Insufficiency
Pain: aching, throbbing, cramping
Pulses: present but difficult to palpate thru edema
Skin: pigmentation in gaiter area (medial and lateral malleolus), thick and tough skin, may be reddish-blue, often with dermatitis
Ulcers, Arterial Insufficiency:
Location: tip of toes, web spaces, heel, or other pressure points (if immobile)
Pain: very painful
Depth: deep, with joint space involved
Shape: circular
Ulcer base: pale to black, wet to dry gangrene
Leg edema: minimal unless leg kept in dependent position constantly to relieve pain
Ulcers, Venous Insufficiency:
Location: malleolus (medial, lateral) or anterior tibial area
Pain: minimal to very painful
Depth: superficial
Shape: irregular borders
Ulcer base: granulation tissue (beefy red to yellow fibrinous in chronic, long-term ulcer)
Leg edema: moderate to severe
Assessment (Health History)
ask pain and precipitating factors
Intermittent Claudication, definition:
Indicates peripheral arterial insufficiency (50 – 75% of lumen/ cross-section area obstructed)
muscular, cramp-type pain, discomfort, fatigue in extremities consistently reproduced with the same degree of activity or exercise and relieved by rest
Intermittent Claudication, nursing intervention:
monitor progression by documentation of amount of exercise or distance walked (blocks, feet, or meters) before onset of pain
Rest Pain, definition:
Persistent pain in anterior portion of foot (forefoot) even at rest, worse at night and may interfere with sleep
Indicates severe arterial insufficiency and a critical state of ischemia
Rest Pain, nursing intervention:
requires extremity to be lowered to a dependent position to improve perfusion to distal tissues
Assessment (Physical Assessment)
patient’s skin color and temperature, character or quality of peripheral pulses
Rubor, definition:
reddish-blue discoloration of the extremities
observed within 20s to 2 minutes in dependent position
suggests severe peripheral arterial damage where BVs cannot constrict and remain dilated
Cyanosis, definition:
bluish tint of the skin, amount of oxygenated hemoglobin is reduced (darker red in color)
Chronically-reduced nutrient supply
loss of hair, brittle nails, dry or scaling skin, atrophy, ulcerations (from cell and tissue death)