Peripheral Arterial Disease Flashcards
what happens in pAD?
atherosclerosis causes stenosis of the arteries via multifactoral processes involving modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors
As with CAD ___ _____ is responsible for the most serious manifestations of PAD and not infrequently occurs in a ____ that has been hitherto asymptomatic.
. As with CAD plaque rupture is responsible for the most serious manifestations of PAD and not infrequently occurs in a plaque that has been hitherto asymptomatic.
what are the symptoms of chronic PAD?
- intermittent claudication
- severe PAD - may experience ulceration, gangrene and foot pain at rest
- rest pain can result in the patient being unable to sleep, this is relieved by hanging the foot out the bed
what is interittent claudication?
This is the ischaemic pain affecting the muscles of the leg upon walking.
what are the characteristics of IC?
- Often the pain is worse walking uphill but never occur at rest
- the distance walked until intermittent claudication sets in never changes
- The pain is usually in the calf
calf claudication suggests ____ disease while buttock claudication suggests ____ disease
calf claudication suggests femoral disease while buttock claudication suggests iliac disease
fontaine classification of PAD 1-4
1 - asymptomatic
2 - IC
3 - ischaemic rest pain
4 - ulceration/ gangrene (critical ischaemia)
what are the signs of PAD?
- The lower limbs are cold with dry skin and lack of hair
- diminished or absent femoral, popliteal or foot pulses
- pallor
- postural dependent colour change
- punched out ulcers - often painful
- long capillary refill time
what are the common risk factors for PAD?
smoking, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension
what tests are done to assess risk factors?
FBC, U & E, lipids, ECG, thrombophilia screen and serum homocysteine
what diseases are excluded by ESR/CRP?
diabetes, arthritis
why do a FBC ?
for anaemia and polycythaemia
why do a U&E
for renal disease
why do liipds?
for dyslipidaemia
why do an ECG?
to assess for cardiac disease
what test is used to assess BP at the ankle?
ankle brachial pressure index
what is the ABPI?
This is a measurement of the cuff pressure at which the blood flow is detectable by doppler in the posterior tibial or anterior tibial arteries compared to the brachial
what is the normal ABPI range?
1-1.2
what is the PAD range of ABPI?
0.5-0.9
what is the ABPI range for critical ischaemia ?
less than 0.5 or ankle systolic pressue of less than 50 mmHg
what can give falsely high ABPI readings?
if the patient has calcification of the arteries (atherosclerosis) - as they are incompressible