Vascular Surgery Flashcards
What are the 6Ps of acute limb ischaemia
Pain, pallor, pulseless, paralysis, paraesthesia perishing cold
What is Leriche Syndrome
Occlusion in the distal aorta or proximal common iliac artery
Thigh/ bum claudication
Absent femoral pulses
Male impotence
What is Buerger’s test
- Lie patient on back and life legs to 45 degrees at hip - hold 1-2 mins - pale = inadequate arterial supply
Berger’s angle - angle that leg goes pale
- Sit patient up with legs hanging over bed - healthy patient- legs will go pink
PAD- Legs will be initially blue- ischaemic tissue deoxygenates blood
Then
Dark red - rubor
What are the features of arterial leg ulcers
Small, deep, well defined, punched out, peripheral (on toes), reduced bleeding, painful, pale, pain worse at night or on elevating - helps to lower leg
What are the features of venous ulcers
Happen after minor leg injury, larger than arterial, more superficial, irregular sloping boarders, affect mid calf to ankle, less painful, skin changes, pain worse on lowering leg
What is a normal Ankle- brachial pressure index
0.9-1.3 - normal
Lower than 0.9= PAD
Above 1.3 = Calcification of arteries- diabetes
Ratio of Systolic BP in ankle compared with arm
What is the treatment for intermittent claudication
Exercise training
Medical- Statins 80mg , clopidogrel 75mg , peripheral vasodilators
Surgical- endovascular angioplasty and stenting
Bypass surgery
What is the management of critical limb ischaemia
Urgent revascularisation
Endovascular angioplasty and stenting
Endarterectomy
Bypass surgery
Amputation
What is the management of acute limb ischaemia
caused by a thrombus
Endovascular thombolysis
Endovascular thombectomy
Surgical thrombectomy
Bypass
Endarterectomy
Amputation
What are the main risk factors for a DVT
Immobility, surgery, long haul travel, pregnancy, Hormone therapy with oestrogen, malignancy, polycythaemia, SLE, thrombophilia
What are the two types of VTE prophylaxis
- LMWH- enoxaparin - contraindicated (active bleeding or existing anticoagulation with warfarin or DOAC)
- Anti-embolic compression stockings
How do you examine leg swelling
Circumference of the calf 10cm below tibial tuberosity more than 3cm difference between calves is signficiant
What is used to diagnose a DVT
Doppler USS to diagnose
Repeat negative USS 6-8 days after if D-Dimer is positive and Well’s score suggests that DVT is likely
What is used to diagnose a PE
CT pulmonary angiogram (preferred) or VQ scan
VQ scan in significant renal impairment
What is the initial management of a DVT or PE
Treatment dose apixaban or rivaroxaban (10mg) - started immediately
Catheter directed thrombolysis in patients with iliofemoral DVT that symptoms last less than 14 days
What long term anticoagulation is used in DVT/PE
DOACS- apixaban, rivaroxaban etc - most patients
Warfarin in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome
(APLS= weirdos- warfarin)
LMWH (enoxaparin) in pregnancy
Anticoag for
3 months if reversible cause
over 3 months in unclear cause, recurrent VTE or irreversible cause
3-6 months in active cancer