Pulse Volume Recording

Question 1

what does APG do ?

3

Answer 1

volume (air) Plethysmography
measure volume change
it tells the total limb volume under cuff
reflects severity of peripheral disease

Question 2

how does APG work

Answer 2

it measures how much air is displaced thru the cuff as blood volume moves through limb segment and turns that into pulsitile preasure reading analog waveform reading

Question 3

what are the cuffs called

and what pressure are they inflated to

Answer 3

Pneumatic cuffs

40-60 mmHg

Question 4

describe good plethysmographic wf

4

Answer 4

rapid upstroke
sharp peak
sharp down stroke
dycrotic notch

Question 5

what is fantastic about plethysmography in regards to diabetic patients

Answer 5

it is not affected by calcified vessels

Question 6

what is the paper speed in APG

Answer 6

25 mm/sec

Question 7

what characteristics of plethsmographic wf indicates disease

Answer 7

early disease - absence of dycrotic notch
bowing of downslope
moderate disease- upstroke and downstroke become =
in amplitude

severe disease- blunted amplitude

Question 8

capabilities of APG

3

Answer 8

helps determine true claudication from non vascular source of pain

helps localize the level of obstruction

assesses the entire limb flow volume including collateral flow

Question 9

limitations of APG

4

Answer 9

cannot be specific to one vessel as tracing reflects all arterial flow beneath the vessel

cannot discriminate between major arteries and collateral flow

venous influence is not compleately eliminated

difficult to perform volume plethysmography on thick legs

Question 10

APG Technique :

Answer 10

Pt supine

3 or 4 cuff method

40-620 mmHg of air inflated

move from upper part to distal extremity (opposite)

gain setting is continuous for all readings

record for 3 pulse cycles