Vascular Mushkies Flashcards
Venous examination?
- Inspection = skin changes & scars + site & size of varicosities
- Palpation
- Auscultation
- Doppler
- Completion
Chronic venous insufficiency skin changes?
HAS LEGS
- Haemosiderosis
- Atrophie Blanche
- Swelling
- Lipodermatosclerosis
- Eczema
- Gaiter Ulcers
- Stars, venous
Site of varicosities?
- Medial and above knee = great saphenous
- Posterior and below knee = short saphenous
- Few varicosities + prominent skin changes = calf perforators
Palpation in venous examination?
- Pitting oedema
- Varicosities (tenderness = thrombophlebitis, induration = thrombosis)
- Saphena varix @ SFJ
- Tap test = tap proximally and feel for impulse distally
Auscultation in venous examination?
Bruit over varicosity = AVM
Doppler in venous examination?
- Place probe @ SFJ/SPJ and squeeze calf
- Normally hear only half second whoosh when pressure is released
- Long whoosh suggests valve incompetence
Completion of venous examination?
- Trendelenburg/Tourniquet test
- Examine abdomen + PR
- Pelvis in females
Tourniquet/Trendelenburg test?
- Position pt supine, elevate leg and milk veins
- Apply tourniquet as high up as possible or compress SFJ
- Stand pt
- Controlled = incompetence ABOVE tourniquet, release tourniquet to confirm filling
- Uncontrolled = incompetence BELOW tourniquet, e.g. SPJ or calf perforators, repeat test with tourniquet just below knee
SFJ location?
2 finger breadths below and lateral to pubic tubercle
Great saphenous vein passes where respective to malleolus?
Anterior to medial malleolus
Varicose veins defn?
Tortuous, dilated veins of the superficial venous system due to underlying valve incompetence
CEAP classification acronym?
- Clinical Signs
- Etiology
- Anatomy
- Pathophysiology
3 main sites where valve incompetence occurs?
- SFJ = 3cm below and 3cm lateral to pubic tubercle
- SPJ = popliteal fossa
- Perforators = draining GSV (great saphenous vein)
Causes of varicose veins classification?
Primary and Secondary
Primary causes of varicose veins?
- Prolonged standing
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
- OCP
Secondary causes of varicose veins?
- Valve destruction = DVT, thrombophlebitis
- Obstruction = pelvic mass, DVT
- AVM
- Syndromes
Syndromes that cause varicose veins?
- Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome = abnormality of the deep venous system –> varicose veins, port wine stain, bony + soft tissue hypertrophy of the limbs
- Parkes-Weber Syndrome = multiple AVMs with limb hypertrophy
Symptoms of varicose veins?
- Cosmetic
- Pain, cramping, heaviness
- Tingling
- Bleeding = may be severe
- Swelling
Varicose veins definitive Ix?
Duplex US
Mx of varicose veins?
- Conservative = lose weight, exercise, avoid prolonged standing, compression stockings, emollients
- Minimally invasive therapies
- Surgery
Minimally invasive therapies for varicose veins?
- Injection sclerotherapy with 1% Na tetradecyl sulphate
2. Endovenous laser or RFA
Indication for minimally invasive therapies for varicose veins?
Small below knee varicosities not involving the GSV or SSV
Post-op Mx of minimally invasive therapies for varicose veins?
- Compression bandage for 24hrs
2. Compression stockings for 1 month
Indications for surgery for varicose veins?
- SFJ incompetence
- Major perforator incompetence
- Symptomatic = ulceration, skin changes, pain
Surgical procedures for varicose veins?
- Trendelenberg = saphenofemoral ligation
- SSV ligation = in popliteal fossa
- Multiple avulsions
- Cockett’s operation = perforator ligation
- SEPS
SEPS?
Subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery
Varicose vein surgery post-op Mx?
- Bandage tightly and elevate for 24hrs
2. Discharge w/ compression stockings and told to walk daily
Complications of varicose vein surgery?
- Early = haematoma, wound sepsis, nerve damage e.g. long saphenous
- Late = superficial thrombophlebitis, DVT, recurrence (10% at 5 years)
Test for deep venous occlusion?
Perthes test = high tourniquet around pts leg + walking for 5 mins –> swelling and pain
Causes of post-phlebitic syndrome?
- Reflux following DVT = 90%
2. Obstruction following DVT = 10%
Venous gangrene?
Rare complication of DVT in the iliofemoral segment with 3 phases:
- Phlegmasia alba dolens = white leg
- Phlegmasia cerulea dolens = blue leg
- Gangrene secondary to acute ischaemia
Lipodermatosclerosis?
An inflammatory sclerosing panniculitis occurring secondary to chronic venous insufficiency
Ix of deep venous disease?
- Duplex US
- Venography
- Ambulatory venous pressures
Surgical Mx of post-phlebitic limb?
- Reflux = valvuloplasty of damaged valves (Kistner Operation), or transplant of axillary vein with valve into deep venous system of leg (Trahere transplantation)
- Obstruction = Palma oberation (use contralateral GSV and anastomose to femoral vein to bypass iliofemoral obstruction)
Arterial examination?
- Inspection
- Palpation
- Auscultation
- Buerger’s angle
- Completion
Arterial examination inspection?
- Colour = pallor or cyanosis
- Trophic changes = muscle atrophy, dry shiny skin, nail dystrophy and loss of hair
- Ulcers = between toes, base of 1st and 5th metacarpals, heel
- Gangrene
- Scars
Arterial examination palpation?
- Temperature
- Pulses = present as present, reduced or absent
- Capillary refill <2s
Lower limb pulses?
- Aorta = just above umbilicus
- Femoral = mid-inguinal point
- Popliteal = b/w heads of gastrocnemius
- Dorsalis pedis = lateral to extensor hallucis longus, absent in 5%
- Posterior tibial = postero-inferior to medial malleolus
- Graft + distal pulses = is the graft patent
Arterial examination auscultation?
- Aorta and renal vessels
- Iliac = midway from umbilicus to inguinal ligament
- Femoral
- Course of SFA if popliteal cant be palpated
- Grafts
Buerger’s Angle and Test?
- Lift leg to 45 degrees and observe for pallor and venous guttering, <20 = severe ischaemia
- Buerger’s test = reactive hyperaemia on lowering the leg secondary to vasodilation of the microcirculation in response to ischaemia
Arterial examination completion?
- Pulses
- ABPI
- DM neuropathy and valve disease
2 presentations of chronic limb ischaemia?
- Intermittent claudication
2. Critical limb ischaemia
Intermittent claudication fx?
- Cramping pain after walking a fixed distance
- Pain rapidly relieved by rest
- Calf pain = superficial femoral disease (commonest)
- Buttock pain = iliac disease (internal or common)
Critical limb ischaemia fx?
- Ankle artery pressure <50mmHg
- Rest pain >2 weeks = esp. at night, usually felt in the foot, pt hangs foot out of bed
- Tissue loss = ulceration, gangrene
Classification system for chronic limb ischaemia?
Fontaine Classification
- Asymptomatic
- Intermittent claudication
- Rest pain
- Ischaemic ulcers or gangrene
What is Leriche’s syndrome?
Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease, presenting with triad of:
- Buttock claudication and wasting
- Erectile dysfunction
- Absent femoral pulses
Intermittent claudication path, site, pain and examination?
- Path = arterial insufficiency
- Site = calf or buttock
- Pain = set distance, reproducible, worse up stairs, cramping, eased by standing rest
- Examination = evidence of PVD
Spinal claudication path, site, pain and examination?
- Path = nerve compression
- Site = ill defined/whole leg
- Pain = positional onset, better up stairs, burning pain, eased sitting forward
- Examination = normal
RFs for chronic limb ischaemia?
- Modifiable
2. Non-modifiable
Modifiable RFs for chronic limb ischaemia?
- Smoking
- BP
- DM
- Lipids
- Exercise
Non-modifiable RFs for chronic limb ischaemia?
- FHx
- PMH
- Male
- Age
- Ethnicity
Fontaine 1 ABPI?
0.8-1
Fontaine 2 ABPI?
0.6-0.8
Fontaine 3 ABPI?
0.3-0.6
Fontaine 4 ABPI?
<0.3
Normal ABPI?
> 1
CKF/DM calcification ABPI?
> 1.4
Chronic limb ischaemia Ix?
- Bedside = ABPI, ECG
- Bloods = FBC (anaemia may worsen Sx), U&E (renovascular disease), glucose, lipids
- Imaging = Duplex US, CT/MR angiogram, digital subtraction angiography
Mx of chronic limb ischaemia?
- Conservative
- Medical
- Interventional
- Surgical
Conservative mx of chronic limb ischaemia?
- Walk through pain = exercise programmes
- Foot care
- Stop smoking
- Weight loss
Medical mx of chronic limb ischaemia?
- HTN
- Statin
- Antiplatelets
Interventional mx of chronic limb ischaemia?
- Angioplasty +/- stenting
2. Chemical sympathectomy
Surgical mx of chronic limb ischaemia?
- Endarterectomy
- Bypass grafting
- Amputation
Bypass grafting indications?
- V. short claudication distance (<100m)
- Sx greatly affecting QoL
- Rest pain
Practicalities of bypass grafting?
- Need good proximal supply and distal run off
- Saphenous vein grafts preferred below the IL
- More distal grafts have increased rates of thrombosis
Classification of bypass grafting?
- Anatomical = fem-pop, fem-distal, aortobifemoral
2. Extra-anatomical = axillo-fem/bifem, fem-fem crossover
AAA palpation?
Pulsatile and expansile mass on deep palpation in the epigastrium
AAA defn?
Abnormal dilatation of the abdominal aorta to >50% of its normal diameter, or >3cm
AAA Ix?
- US
- CT/MRI
- Angio
Complications of AAA surgery?
1, Death
- MI
- Renal failure
- Spinal/mesenteric ischaemia
- Distal trash from thromboembolism
- Anastomotic leak
- Graft infection
- Aortoenteric fistula
Operative mortality of AAA?
- AAA = Emergency (50%), Elective (5%)
2. EVAR = 1%
Popliteal aneurysm Fx?
- Represent >80% of all non-aortic aneurysms
- Lump behind the knee, >2cm
- 50% present with distal limb ischaemia (thromboembolism)
- <10% rupture
Mx of popliteal aneurysm?
- Acute = embolectomy or fem-distal bypass
2. Stable = excision bypass
Indications for surgical mx of popliteal aneurysm?
- Symptomatic
- Containing thrombus
- > 2cm
Aneurysm defn?
Abnormal dilatation of a blood vessel to >50% of its normal diameter
Aneurysm classification?
- True
- False
- Dissection
True aneurysm?
Dilatation of a blood vessel involving all layers of the wall and >50% of its normal diameter
- Fusiform = AAA
- Saccular = Berry
False aneurysm?
Collection of blood around a vessel wall that communicates with the vessel lumen
- Usually iatrogenic e.g. puncture, cannulation
- Fibrous tissue forms around haematoma –> false sac which communicates with the vessel lumen
Dissection?
Vessel dilatation caused by blood splaying apart the media to form a channel within the vessel wall
Causes of aneurysms?
- Congenital
2. Acquired
Congenital causes of aneurysms?
- ADPKD –> Berry
2. CTD = Marfans, ED
Acquired causes of aneurysms?
- Atherosclerosis
- Inflammatory = Takayasu’s, HSP
- Infection = Mycotic (SBE), Tertiary Syphilis, Samonella typhi
- Trauma = penetrating
Infection associated with AAA?
S. typhi
Complications of aneurysms?
- Rupture
- Thrombosis
- Distal embolisation
- Pressure = DVT, oesophagus, nutcracker syndrome
- Fistula = IVC, intestine
Aneurysm screening?
UK men offered one time US screen at 65 years
Most common location for false aneurysm?
Common femoral artery following puncture for a radiological procedure
Mx of false aneurysm?
- US compression
- Thrombin injection
- Surgical repair
Amputation examination?
- Inspection
- Palpation
- Move
- Completion
Amputation inspection?
- Stump anatomical level
- Stump health
- Evidence of chronic vascular disease
Amputation palpation?
- Soft tissue under skin should move freely over the bone
2. Proximal pulses
Amputation movement?
- Actively flex and extend the joint above the amputation (many pts have fixed flexion deformity after BKA)
- Ask to see prosthesis and see pt walk in it
Amputation exam completion?
Examine other limb for signs of PVD
Indications for amputations?
4Ds
- Dead = PVD (90%), thrombangiitis obliterans
- Dangerous = sepsis, malignancy
- Damaged = trauma, burns, frostbite
- Damned nuisance = pain, neurological damage
Complications of amputation?
- Early = death, haemorrhage, infection (cellulitis, gangrene, osteomyelitis)
- Late = scar contractures (fixed flexion), phantom limb pain (gabapentin/mirror box), poor stump shape inhibiting prosthesis
2 possible carotid artery disease findings?
- Carotid endarterectomy scar = beneath angle of the mandible, parallel to the SCM
- Carotid bruit = along course of common carotid, medial to the SCM in the anterior
Complications of carotid stenosis?
- TIA
2. Stroke
Carotid endarterecomy complications?
- Haematoma
- MI
- Nerve injury
What nerves an be injured by a carotid endarterectomy?
- Hypoglossal
- Greater auricular = numb ear lobe
- RLN = hoarse voice, bovine cough
Inspection and palpation of diabetic foot?
- Inspection = bilateral arterial disease, amputations esp. digits, charcot joints, ulceration
- Palpation = pulses may be preserved due to calcification, decreased sensation in stocking distribution
Diabetic foot syndrome features?
- Macrovascular disease
- Microvascular disease
- Neuropathy
- Infection and osteomyelitis
Aetiology of diabetic ulcers?
- Neuropathic = 45-60%
- Ischaemia = 10%
- Mixed neuroischaemic = 25-45%
Considerations for diabetics undergoing angiography?
- Often have a degree of renal impairment which can be dramatically worsened with contrast agents
- Metformin must be stopped prior to the procedure to prevent lactic acidosis
Gangrene defn?
Irreversible tissue death from poor vascular supply
Classification of gangrene?
- Pregangrene = tissue on the brink of gangrene
- Dry = tissue death only
- Wet = tissue death + infection
Causes of gangrene?
DERTI
- DM = commonest
- Embolism and thrombosis = foot trash in AAA repair
- Raynaud’s
- Thrombangiitis obliterans
- Injury = extreme cold, heat, trauma or pressure
Thrombangiitis obliterans aka?
Buerger’s disease
Mx of gangrene?
- Take cultures
- Debridement (including amputation)
- Benzylpenicillin +/- clindamycin
What is synergistic gangrene?
Involved both aerobes and anaerobes, progresses rapidly to necrotizing fasciitis and myositis
2 types of synergistic gangrene?
- Fournier’s = perineum
2. Meleney’s = post-op ulceration
Gas gangrene defn?
- AKA Clostridial myonecrosis
2. RFs = DM, trauma, malignancy
Presentation of gas gangrene?
- Toxaemia
- Crepitus from surgical emphysema
- Bubbly brown pus
Mx of gas gangrene?
- Debridement +/- amputation
- Benzylpenicillin +/- metronidazole
- Hyperbaric O2
Raynaud’s phenomenon?
Characteristic cold induced changed associated with vasospasm
Raynaud’s disease?
Primary Raynaud’s phenomenon occurring in isolation
Raynaud’s syndrome?
Secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon association with other disease
Colour changes in Raynaud’s?
White –> Blue –> Crimson
Pathogenesis of raynauds?
- Overactive a-sympathetic receptors OR
2. Fixed obstruction in vessel wall
Secondary causes of Raynaud’s?
BADCAT
- Bloods = polycythaemia, cryoglobulinaemia, cold agglutinin
- Arterial = atherosclerosis, thrombangiitis obliterans
- Drugs = BB, OCP, ergotamine
- Cervical rib = thoracic outlet obstruction
- AI = SLE, RA, SS
- Trauma = vibration injry
Mx of Raynauds?
- Conservative = wear gloves and avoid cold, stop smoking
- Medical = Nifedipiine, IV prostacyclin
- Surgical = cervical sympathectomy, amputate gangrenous digits
DDx (NOT CAUSES) of thoracic outlet obstruction?
- Arterial = Raynauds
- Venous = Axillary vein thrombosis or trauma
- Neuro = cervical spondylosis, Pancoasts tumour
Arm signs of thoracic outlet obstruction?
Reduced venous outflow
- Pitting oedema
- Cyanosis
- Pallor
Hand signs of thoracic outlet obstruction?
Reduced arterial inflow
- Raynauds
- Patchy gangrene
- Fingertip necrosis
Hand and arm signs of thoracic outlet obstruction?
Neurological complications
- Complete claw hand
- T1 sensory loss
- Radicular pain
Aetiology of thoracic outlet obstruction?
- Congenital = cervical rib
2. Acquired = clavicular fracture, pathological enlargement of 1st rib
Peripheral ulcer examination?
- Inspection
- Palpation
- Completion
Inspection of peripheral ulcer?
3S + BEDS
- 3S = size, site, shape
- Base = granulation tissue, slough, floor (bone, tendon, fascia)
- Edge = sloping, punched out, undermined, rolled, everted
- Discharge = serous, purulent, asnguinous
- Surroundings = cellulitis, excoriations, sensate, LNs
Sloping peripheral ulcer?
Healing (usually venous)
Punched out ulcer?
Ischaemic or neuropathic
Undermined ulcer?
Pressure necrosis or TB
Rolled ulcer?
BCC
Everted ulcer?
SCC
Peripheral ulcer palpation?
- Lib pulses
2. Sensation around the ulcer
Completion of peripheral ulcer examination?
- Neurovascular examination
2. ABPI must be >0.8 for compression bandaging
Causes of a peripheral ulcer?
- Venous = 75%
- Arterial = 2%
- Mixed arteriovenous = 15%
- Neuropathic
- Pressure
- Vasculitis e.g. PAN
- Malignancy = SCC, Marjolins
- Systemic = Pyoderma gangrenosum
Venous ulcer inspection?
3S BEDS
- Site = medial malleolus
- Size = can be large
- Shape = uneven
- Base = shallow, pink granulation tissue
- Edge = sloping edge
- Discharge = seropurulent
- Surroundings = HAS LEGS, varicose veins
Venous ulcer palpation?
- Painless
- Warm surrounding
- Sensate
Causes of venous ulcer?
- Valvular disease
- Varicose veins
- Deep vein reflux
- Outflow obstruction e.g. post-DVT
- Muscle pump failure
- Stroke
- Neuromuscular disease
Venous ulcer Ix?
1, Bedside = ABPI, duplex US
3. Biopsy
Venous ulcer Mx?
- Conservative = leg ulcer clinic, RFs, anaglesia, bed rest, elevate leg, manuka honey (topical antiseptic)
- 4 layer compression bandaging if ABPI > 0.8
- Surgical = split-thickness skin grafts
Ischaemic ulcer inspection?
3S + BEDS
- Site = between toes, base of 1st and 5th metatarsals, heel
- Size = mm-cm
- Shape = often circular
- Base = deep (may be down to bone), may be slough but no granulation tissue
- Edge = punched out
- Discharge = minimal
- Surroundings = pale, trophic changes
Causes of ischaemic ulcer?
- Large vessel = atherosclerosis, thrombangiitis obliterans
2. Small vessel = DM, PAN, RA
Ischaemic ulcer Mx?
- Conservative = analgesia (ladder), RFs
2. Medical = RFs, IV prostaglandins, chemical lumbar sympathectomy
Chemical lumbar sympathectomy?
- Chemical ablation of L1-L4 paravertebral ganglia
- Inhibit sympathetic mediated vasocontriction
- Relief of pain
- Often unsuccessful in DM
Neuropathic ulcer inspection?
3S + BEDS
1. Site = pressure areas, between toes, base of 1st and 5th metatarsals, heel
2. Size = variable
3 . Shape = corresponds to shape of pressure point
4. Base = may be deep with bone exposure
5. Edge = punched out
6. Discharge = minimal
7. Surroundings = normal skin, Charcot’s joints
Neuropathic ulcer palpation?
- Normal temperature and peripheral pulses
2. Absent sensation around ulcer, absent ankle jerks
Cause of neuropathic ulcer?
Any cause of peripheral neuropathy
Pathophysiology of neuropathic ulcer?
- Sensory neuropathy = distal limb damage not felt by pt
- Motor neuropathy = wasting of intrinsic foot muscles and an altered foot shape
- Autonomic neuropathy = decreased sweating –> cracked, dry foot
Lymphoedema pitting?
Initially pitting, later non-pitting
Unilateral limb swelling Ddx?
- Infection
- Inflammation
- DVT
- Venous insufficiency
- Lymphoedema
Causes of bilateral limb swelling?
- Increased venous pressure = RHF, venous insufficiency, CCBs
- Reduced oncotic pressure = hepatic failure, nephrotic syndrome, protein losing enteropathy
- Lymphoedema
- Myxoedema = hypothyroidism
Lymphoedema defn?
Collection of interstitial fluid due to blockage or absence of lymphatics
Classification of causes of lymphoedema?
Primary or Secondary
Primary causes of lymphoedema?
- Congenital absence of lymphatics, may or may not be familial
- Milroy’s syndrome
Milroy’s syndrome?
Familial AD subtype of congenital lymphoedema, often presenting with unilateral limb swelling and hydrocele
Secondary causes of lymphoedema?
FIIT
- FIbrosis = e.g. post-radiotherapy
- Infection = TB
- Infiltration = Ca (prostate, lymphoma), Lymphatic Filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti)
- Trauma = block dissection of lymphatics
Mx of lymphoedema?
- Conservative = skin care, Grade 3 compression stockings, treat/prevent cellulitis
- Physio = raise leg as much as possible
- Surgical = debulking operation, bypass procedures