Non-Invasive Vascular Screening

Question 1

What is a normal refill time for capillary refill tests?

Answer 1

Less than 3 seconds

Question 2

How fast would you see pallor/blanching in the lower extremities during a rubor test if the patient had a severe reaction?

What would be a normal response?

Answer 2

25 seconds or less

little to no color change

mild to moderate would be 30 seconds (mod) and 45-60 (mild)

Question 3

What is a normal reaction for rubor if leg is in dependency?

What if it takes over 30 seconds and is a dark red/rubor?

Answer 3

pink color returns in less than 15 seconds

It is classified as reactive hyperemia and may be positive for severe ischemic disease

Question 4

What is the process for testing venous refill time?

what is a normal response and which response indicates arterial disease?

Answer 4

lie in supine and elevate legs 30-60 degs. observe the veins drain out on top of foot for 60 secs

normal is between 5-15 seconds

over 20 indicates arterial disease

Question 5

What is the ankle brachial index?

What are the contraindications and considerations?

Answer 5

ratio of ankle systolic and brachial systolic BPs

Contra- ulcer near the ankle

Considerations- calcified, non-compressible vessels will skew results

Question 6

What does an ABI ratio of 1-1.2 indicate?

What about a ratio of less than .5?

.8-1?

.5-.8?

less than .2?

Answer 6

Normal

severe ischemia (compression and debridement absolutely contraindicated)

Mild Peripheral Arterial disease, compression for edema with caution/monitoring

Moderate PAD (compression contraindicated if under .6), night pain probable

Tissue death

Question 7

How do you measure claudication onset time?

Answer 7

walk on a level treadmill at 1mph and record time of pain onset