Chronic Limb Ischaemia Flashcards
Signs and symptoms
Ulceration Gangrene Calf pain at rest <50mmHg at ankle Absent femoral/popliteal/foot pulses Atrophic skin Punched out ulcers Cold/pale legs Bueger's Angle <20 degrees Capillary Refill>15 secs
What is Bueger’s Angle?
Angle that leg goes pale when raised off couch
Test for reactive hyperaemia if <20
Phases of disease
Asymptomatic
Intermittent Claudication
Critical Limb Ischaemia
Gangrene/Ulcers
Define intermittent claudication
Pain on exertion only
Relieved by rest
Typically in calves
Due to muscle not getting enough oxygen
Define critical limb ischaemia
Extreme of intermittent claudication Pain at rest >2 weeks Presence of ischaemic lesions/gangrene ABPI Ankle pressure <50mmHg Lose sensation then movement then pain
Differentials for calf pain
Leriche's syndrome Buerger's disease Spinal stenosis Venous claudication Chronic compartment syndrome Baker's cyst Acute limb ischaemia
Define Leriche’s syndrome
Buttock claudication with or without impotence
With leg pain
Who gets Buerger’s disease?
Young heavy smokers
How to distinguish with spinal stenosis?
Lower back pain radiating down lateral leg
Relieved by sitting/lying down for longer time
How to distinguish with venous claudication?
Venous congestion & oedema
Worse in thigh/groin
Relieved by elevation
How to distinguish with chronic compartment syndrome?
Tight burst calf pain after exercise in athletes
How to distinguish with Baker’s cyst?
Pain in calf and behind knee at rest
How to distinguish with acute limb ischaemia
Symptoms for <14 days
Sudden onset
RF of chronic limb ischaemia
Smoking
DM
Dyslipidaemia
HTN
Ix for chronic limb ischaemia
Buerger’s Test
ABPI
Duplex Doppler USS
MRI/CT
ABPI
Ratio of systolic BP in lower leg to that in arms
ABPI<1 = lower BP in legs = peripheral arterial disease
Use of ABPI
To diagnose peripheral arterial disease
In patients with leg ulcers
Can be harmful = further restricts blood supply to foot
Interpretation of ABPI
>1.2 = calcified, stiff arteries, age, PAD 1-1.2 = normal 0.9-1 = acceptable <0.9 = likely PAD 0.6-0.9 = claudication 0.3-0.6 = rest pain <0.3 impeding