Vascular examination Flashcards
What are you inspecting for?
colour, tar staining, tendon xanthomas, gangrene
Palpation in vascular exam
temperature and cap refill
Where to inspect in particular for vascular exam?
Inside finger and toe folds
Which pulses?
Radial - + radioradial delay
brachial pulse
carotid pulse
What to offer as you move up the arm?
Blood pressure of course?
What else do you have to do for carotid?
auscultate for a bruit
What to do in the abdomen?
Inspect, palpate feeling for expansion, and auscultate for aortic bruits
What are you inspecting for in the legs?
Scars, hair loss, pallor, ulcers (look between toes and lift feet up), ask patient to wiggle their toes.
What to do at femoral pulse?
Palpate, radio-femoral delay (coarctation of aorta) auscultate
What is the aim when assessing sensation?
to identify limb paresthesia which can be a symptom of acute limb ischaemia
What is buergers test?
with patient positioned supine, raise both feet to 45degrees for 2-3 mins. Look for pallor, if this occurs note angle.Less than 20 indicates severe limb ischaemia.
What to do after buergers?
Once limit reaches, ask patient to place their legs over the side of the bed and observe for reactive hyperaemia
What to do to complete vascular examination?
Cardiovascular examination, ABPI measurement, lower limb neurological examination
