PV System Flashcards
what is the MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE VASCULAR SYSTEM?
- important for transportation of FLUID (such as BLOOD & LYMPH)
- important for the OXYGEN & NUTRIENT DELIVERY / ELIMINATION OF WASTE PRODUCTS from cellular metabolism
describe the ANATOMY of ARTERIES
- have very STRONG WALLS - have to withstand high pressure demands
- have ELASTIC FIBERS to STRETCH during SYSTOLE & RECOIL during DIASTOLE
- have MUSCLE FIBERS - allows to control the amount of blood delivered to the tissues
artery function
- pumps OXYGENATED BLOOD through the arteries to all the body tissues
- since it is pumping towards the body; it needs a HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM to do so
ischemia
the deficient supply of oxygenated arterial blood to tissue caused by OBSTRUCTION of a BLOOD VESSEL
what happens if we have ISCHEMIA and tissue?
can have various blockages;
COMPLETE BLOCKAGE;
leads to DEATH of DISTAL TISSUE
PARTIAL BLOCKAGE;
leads to an INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY; can be more apparent only during EXERCISE when oxygen needs increase
what are the MAJOR ARM ARTERIES?
- BRACHIAL ARTERY
- RADIAL PULSE
- ULNAR ARTERY
what are the major LEG ARTERIES?
- FEMORAL ARTERY
**under inguinal ligament - POPLITEAL ARTERY
**splits into ant. tibial artery - POSTERIOR TIBIAL ARTERY
*travels down the medial malleolus – forms into plantar arteries
structure of VEINS
- have a LARGER DIAMETER & are more DISTENSIBLE
- can EXPAND & HOLD MORE BLOOD allows to reduce strain on heart
- more often in the SUBQ tissue
vein function
- drains DEOXYGENATED BLOOD & WASTE PRODUCTS and returns it to the heart
- more of a LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
describe VENOUS LEG CRAMPS
gets BETTER with EXERCISE, WORSE with dangling
**this makes sense because the veins work going UP against GRAVITY to get blood back into the heart
- has pain of pressure & fatigue
- often caused by VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY
- worsens with IMMOBILITY & DIABETES
- can lead to ULCERS, GANGRENE, AMPUTATIONS
describe ARTERIAL LEG CRAMPS
gets WORSE with EXERCISE, BETTER WITH REST
**this makes sense as with more exercise, allows a greater necessity of oxygen being delivered towards body – greater work needed
- have PAIN OF ISCHEMIA–INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION
- can be caused ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
- can lead to INFARCTS, DRY GANGRENE, AMPUTATIONS
bilateral edema
can be an indication of CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY or a systemic problem
- ex. heart failure, liver failure, hypoalbuminemia
unilateral edema
indication of LOCAL DAMAGE to or REMOVAL OF LYMPHATICS (post-mastectomy)
- OBSTRUCTION (lymphoma)
- INFECTION (cellulitis)
what are HPI SYMPTOMS?
- skin changes
- leg pain/aching pain
- buldging veins
- leg wounds/sores
- swelling
- sexual activity changes
what do we look for during ARTERIAL PULSE PALPATION?
looking at the characteristics BILATERALLY (for symmetry)
- RATE
- RHYTHM
- CONTOUR
- AMPLITUDE
**important to also look at JUGULAR VENOUS PULSATIONS & DISTENSION
describe the PITTING EDEMA SCALE
0+ NO PITTING EDEMA
1+ MILD PITTING EDEMA; 2 mm depression; disappears rapidly
2+ MODERATE PITTING EDEMA; 4 mm depression; disappears in 10-15 sec
3+ MODERATELY SEVERE PITTING EDEMA; 6 mm depression; 1 min+
4+ SEVERE PITTING EDEMA; 8 mm depression; 2 min+
what to INSPECT & PALPATE FOR?
- looking at any changes;
color, hair distribution, lesions/ulcers - varicosities **best assessed while standing? how is the pt’s symmetry?
what ARTERIES DO WE PALPATE?
- CAROTID
- BRACHIAL
- RADIAL
- FEMORAL
- POPLITEAL
- DORSALIS PEDIS
- POSTERIOR TIBIAL
what is the AMPLITUDE SCALE?
0 absent; not palpable
1; diminished; barely palpable
2; expected
3; full, increased
4; bounding, aneurysmal
which arteries do we PALPATE FOR BRUITS?
- CAROTID
- SUBCLAVIAN
- ABDOMINAL AORTA
- RENAL
- ILIAC
- FEMORAL
definition of PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE
a chronic condition that occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the legs or arms narrow or become blocked due to the STENOSIS OF THE BLOOD SUPPLY
- having tiny clots within the system
what aspects do PAD affect?
- SITE
- DEGREE OF NARROWING
- the RAPIDITY of which the problem develops
venous insufficiency
the IMPROPER FUNCTIONING of the ONE-WAY VALVES in the VEINS
arterial insufficiency
having POOR BLOOD CIRCULATION to the lower EXTREMITIES due to ATHEROSCLEROSIS
symptoms of ARTERIAL INSUFFICIENCY
- cool to the touch
- often having DRY, SVALY SKIN
- DANGLING LEGS = RUBOR
- ELEVATING LEGS = PALE
**DR. EP - has SHARP STABBING PAIN that worsens with activity
- often having absent or diminished pulse
- INFREQUENT EDEMA
symptoms of VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY
- warm to the touch
- having THICKENED/MOTTLED/PIGMENTED SKIN
- aching and cramping pain that BENEFITS FROM ACTIVITY
- present pulse
- FREQUENT EDEMA
varicose veins
- dilated and engorged
- has a DIMINISHED RATE OF BLOOD FLOW & increased INTRAVENOUS PRESSURE
- often due to an incompetence of a VESSEL WALL OR VALVES
- can be also caused by OBSTRUCTION in a more proximal vein
what is the pain associated with PAD
known as CLAUDICATION PAIN
- having MUSCLE ISCHEMIA with DECREASED BLOOD FLOW
- having dull aching and muscle fatigue
- gets better with rest; often worsens with activity
who is at risk for PAD? (7)
- patients with ATHEROSCLEROTIC CORONARY, CAROTID, or RENAL ARTERY Dx
- smoking/smoking Hx
- diabetic pt
- obesity
- HTN
- HIGH CHOLESTEROL
- Family Hx of PAD, STROKE, Heart disease
arterial embolic disease
emboli that are dispersed throughout the arterial system
venous thrombosis
sudden or gradual depending on symptoms;
can be the result of TRAUMA or PROLONGED IMMBOLIZATION
- blood clots within the veins
DVT
- when a BLOOD CLOT (thrombus) forms within the DEEP VEIN
- often occurs within the LOWER EXTREMITIES
s/s of DVT
- leg pain
- swelling
- warmth
who is at RISK FOR DVT? what is the TREATMENT?
RISK;
- pt’s who are immobile
- blood clotting disorder
- oral contraceptives
- obesity
- smoking
TREATMENT;
- anticoagulants
- compression stockings
