Vascular Leg Ulcers Flashcards
What parts of exam can give you an indication if they have an arterial wound?
PMH: diabetes, HLD, HTN, smoking, syncope
pulses, lack of hair, location of wound
risk factors: sedentary life, age, family history, obesity
Are arterial or venous ulcers more common?
arterial are less common however more serious
What are clinical symtpoms of arterial ulcer?
cold skin, trophic changes, intermittent claudication, pain increased with elevation (usually in calf), nocturnal pain or at rest, decreased pulses and ABI, pallor with elevation, delayed cap refill, rubor with dependency
What is the cause of intermittent claudication?
due to local iscehmia, can also cause muscle cramp
pain is usually distal to occlusion site
What is ischemic rest pain?
burning pain, nerve ischemia, exacerbated with elevation relieved with dependency
arterial ulcers more likely if you have rest pain
What is the best test for arterial insufficiency?
ABI is best and others can support findings
What is palpation of pulse grades system?
0= no pulse 1+ = barely perceptible, weak pulse 2+= normal 3+ = moderately increased 4+ = stronger than normal, possible aneursym
What is rubor of dependency?
indirectly assesses arterial blood flow
What is procedure or rubor?
elevate legs in supine to 45-60 degrees for one minute observing plantar surface
return to starting position or more dependent to and time how long for color to return
What are norms for rubor?
normal- 15-20 seconds with little or no color change
severe AI over 30 seconds and dark red due to reactive hyper anemia
What is elevation of pallor?
can coincide with rubor and is also predictor of AI
only difference is your monitoring color change during elevation
What are norms for pallor?
normal- no change
mild AI- pallor w/ 45-60 seconds
mod- pallor within 30-45 sec
severe- pallor with 25 seconds
What is cap refill?
indicates surface arterial blood flow
hold big toe for 3 seconds and watch how fast it returns color
normal less than 3 seconds
What are ABI norms?
- 1-1.3 arterial calcification- refer to MD
- 9-1.1 normal
- 7- 0.9 mild to mod
- 5-0.7 mod with claudication
- 5 or less- severe with rest pain
- 3 or less gangrene and rest pain
At what ABI level is compression contraindicated?
0.7 or below it is contraindicated
if 0.7-0.9 low to medium compression may be used
What are clinical features of arterial wound?
punched out/symmetrical, often necrotic dry wound bed, very painful, atrophy of calf muscle
What is usual location of arterial wounds?
pretibial area, dorsum of toes and feet, lateral malleolus
Can sharp debridement be done with these pts?
no, PAD is contraindication
Tx for arterial ulcers?
treat underlying cause, enhance blood flow with exercise walking surgery, enzymatic debridement
HBO, NPWT- if min exudate and free of dry necrotic tissue
proper footwear
What is very important for practical when describing to pts how walking will help?
you will have pain but as long as its not excruciating you have to push through as it will help
How will therex for arterial ulcers?
patient positioning- no elevation
flexibility- tight muscles constrict vessels