Peripheral Vascular Exam Flashcards
1
Q
Grading the amplitude of arterial pulses
A
4+ bounding 3+ increased 2+ normal 1+ diminished 0 absent, not palpable
2
Q
PV exam: upper extremities
A
- inspect extremities and skin for color, cyanosis, swelling
- inspect nails for color, clubbing, capillary refill
- palpate radial and brachial pulses
- palpate for epitrochlear lymph nodes
3
Q
allen test
A
- Helps evaluate arterial supply to hand
- Have patient make a tight fist
- Compress both radial and ulnar arteries
- Ask patient to open hand: should be pale
- Release pressure over ulnar artery
- If collateral circulation is OK, palm gets pink in 2-3 sec
- useful before arterial blood sampling from radial artery and other hand procedures
4
Q
capillary refill
A
normal cap refill <2 seconds
5
Q
abdominal aorta
A
- Auscultation (1st)
- -Bruits with bell
- Palpation
- -Mid-abdomen for pulsations
- -Measure size (normal <3cm)
6
Q
PV exam: lower extremities
A
- INSPECT extremities and skin for color, cyanosis, swelling
- INSPECT nails for color, lesions, capillary refill
- PALPATE femoral pulse, inguinal lymph nodes
- PALPATE popliteal, dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses
- PALPATE for edema
7
Q
pitting edema
A
-Dorsum of each foot
-Behind medial malleolus
-Anterior tibia (shins)
-Grading pitting edema
+1 mild
+2 moderate
+3 marked
+4 severe
8
Q
PV pathology
A
- venous insufficiency
- peripheral arterial disease
9
Q
venous insufficiency
A
- varicose veins
- venous stasis
10
Q
types of edem
A
pitting and nonpitting
11
Q
PV exam checklist
A
- inspect skin and extremities for cyanosis, color changes, edema, hair distribution venous patters, clubbing and nail bed changes
- palpate for temperature differences (back of hand): palpate for pitting edema, capillary refil
- palpate the pulses bilaterally: (femoral) radial, brachial, popliteal, posterior tibila, dorsalis pedis
- perform the allen test
- auscultate the abdominal aorta, renal, iliac arteries for bruits
- palpate and measure the abdominal aorta
