Peripheral Vascular Disease vs Peripheral Venous Disease

Flashcards covering the key concepts and critical details regarding Peripheral Vascular Disease and Peripheral Venous Disease, including definitions, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment approaches.

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

An umbrella term describing diseases affecting both veins and arteries that can impair blood circulation.

Peripheral Venous Disease (PVD)

A specific condition affecting the veins where blood struggles to return to the heart.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

A condition where narrowing of arteries reduces oxygen delivery to distal extremities, often leading to severe complications.

Intermittent Claudication

Pain in the calf muscles during physical activity, due to insufficient blood flow when oxygen demand exceeds supply.

The Six P's

Pain, Paresthesia, Pulse, Pallor, Paralysis, and Poikilothermia, used to assess limb oxygenation.

Paresthesia

A term for abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness, indicating nerve issues often due to reduced blood flow.

Signs of Peripheral Venous Disease

Voluptuous pulses, edema, irregularly shaped sores, dull pain, and warm legs due to blood pooling.

Signs of Peripheral Arterial Disease

Absence of pulse, shiny skin, round red sores, pale toes, and sharp calf pain especially during exertion.

Doppler Ultrasound

A diagnostic tool used to visualize blood flow and assess the narrowing of blood vessels.

ABI (Ankle-Brachial Index)

A test comparing blood pressure in the arm with that in the leg to diagnose Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Treatment for PVD

Elevation of legs to assist venous return and reduce pooling of blood.

Treatment for PAD

Hanging the legs to facilitate blood flow and improve oxygen delivery to the extremities.

Raynaud’s Disease

A condition characterized by cold fingers or toes due to spasms of blood vessels, commonly triggered by cold or stress.

Buerger’s Disease

A condition leading to reduced blood flow in the limbs, primarily in males, worsened by smoking, often necessitating amputation.