Peripheral Venous And Arterial Disease Flashcards
What are the 2 types of veins in the lower limb?
Superficial veins
Deeps veins
Where are the superficial veins located in the lower limbs?
In subcutaneous tissue
Where are the deep veins in the lower limb?
Underneath deep fascia next to bone or through muscle
How does blood move between superficial and deep veins?
Moves from superficial to deep
What are the superficial veins of the lower limb from proximal to distal on the anterior side?
Femoral vein
Branches to the long saphenous vein which runs down the medial side
What landmark can be used to identify the long saphenous vein?
In front of the medial malleolus
What are the superficial veins of the owner limb on the posterior side running from proximal to distal
Popliteal vein emerges from the popliteal fossa
Branches to form short saphenous
What are the deep veins of the lower lim from proximal to distal?
Inferior vena cava
Branches to L/R common iliac
Branches to External Iliacs
Branches to femoral veins (Deep and superficial deep veins)
Femoral becomes popliteal in popliteal fossa
Popliteal branches to fibular vein and tibial vein
Tibial vein branches to Anterior tibial and posterior tibial vein
What muscles make up the calf muscle pump?
Soleus and Gastrocnemius
How does blood flow from superficial to deep veins in the lower limb?
Perforating veins
What deep vein does the short saphenous vein drain into?
Popliteal vein
What deep vein does the long saphenous drain into?
Femoral vein
What features of the lower limb help blood return against gravity?
Valves of veins preventing backflow
Gastrocnemius and Soleus contracting squeezes blood upwards
What is Varicose veins?
Where the walls of the veins are weakened leading to valves being ineffective
Causes blood to be slow or moving wrong way due to veins becoming tortuous and twisted
What are the symptoms of Varicose veins?
Heaviness, aching, muscle cramps and throbbing
Along affected veins:
-leg cramps
-Ankle swelling
-Varicose eczema
-Haemorrhage from damaged veins
What are the risk factors for Varicose veins?
Age
Family history
Female
Number of birth
Occupation (standing a lot)
What is Superficial vein thrombophlebitis?
What does it usually follow from?
Inflammatory processes resulting from a clot in vein
Usually follows varicose veins and increases risk of DVT
What is Lipodermatosclerosis?
Inflammation and thickening/hardening of fat under the skin
What is chronic venous insufficiency?
Happens when the leg veins don’t allow blood flow back to the heart
How does chronic venous hypertension cause Haemosiderin staining?
Red cells forced out into intersitial space in surrounding tissues
Macrophages break down the red cells and their haemoglobin in the tissue
This leads to Haemosiderin remaining in the skin staining it a rusty brown
How does Venous eczema present?
Chronic
Itchy red
Swollen tight
Can lead to lipodermatosclerosis
Hard to touch
How do venous ulcers present?
Chronic
Painful
Develop around hard Nodular areas like medial malleolius
What movement in walking at the ankle is important in the calf pump?
Plantar Flexion
Why does lack of action of the calf pump cause venous hypertension?
Blood pools in the lower limbs
Who is at risk of venous hypertension?
Immobile patients
Parkinson’s patients
Why do patients with Parkinson’s have an increased risk of venous hypertension?
The adopt a Parkinsonian gait where they shuffle along
Not using Plantarflexion and Dorsiflexion properly to use the calf pump q