Vascular Exam (venous) Flashcards
What do you inspect?
Skin changes
- Lipodermatosclerosis
- Venous eczema
- Malleolar flare
Non-pitting oedema
Varicose veins and Saphena Varix
Scars relating to varicose vein surgery
Venous Ulcers
What do you palpate?
Varicose veins
Temperature and tenderness
Pittong oedema
SFJ incompetence - check for cough impulse
Tap test - tap the vein above, feel below - assesses valvular competence
How do you perform trendelenberg’s test?
You are looking for incompetent perforators
Milk the legs
Apply tourniquet at the SFJ high in the thigh (whilst lying down)
Ask the patient to stand
If veins refill then the distal perforators are incompetent
How might the examination be completed?
Abdominal examination - abdominal masses may be causeing the lower limb venous disease
Venous DUplex - looking for reversal of blood flow indicating valvular incompetence