Vascular Surgery Lecture Notes Flashcards

A focused set of vocabulary flashcards defining primary vascular pathology terms, classifications, clinical syndromes, and surgical concepts from the lecture notes.

Acute Limb Ischemia

A serious condition that occurs due to sudden insufficient arterial flow to the limbs.

Chronic Limb Ischemia

The gradual cessation of arterial flow due to partial arterial occlusion accompanied by the development of collateral circulation.

The 6 Ps of Acute Limb Ischemia

The characteristic clinical presentation of acute arterial occlusion comprising Pain (severe), Pallor, Paresthesia, Paralysis/Paresis, Poikilothermia (persisting coldness), and Pulselessness.

Claudication Pain

Intermittent, cramp-like muscle pain induced by exercise and relieved by rest, caused by muscle ischemia in peripheral artery disease.

Ischemic Rest Pain

Continuous, severe, burning-like pre-gangrenous pain in the foot caused by nerve ischemia, which is aggravated by limb elevation and relieved by placing the limb in a dependent position.

Claudication Distance

The specific walking distance a patient with peripheral artery disease can cover before experiencing leg pain.

Claudication Time

The duration of time a patient with peripheral artery disease can walk before pain develops.

Fontaine Classification Stage I

The asymptomatic stage of chronic limb ischemia.

Fontaine Classification Stage II

The stage of chronic limb ischemia characterized by intermittent claudication.

Fontaine Classification Stage III

The stage of chronic limb ischemia characterized by ischemic rest pain.

Fontaine Classification Stage IV

The stage of chronic limb ischemia characterized by tissue loss, including ulceration or gangrene.

Arterial Aneurysm

A permanent localized dilatation of an artery measuring at least $500\times 10^{-3}$ or $50\text{\%}$ greater than its normal diameter.

True Aneurysm

An arterial dilatation bounded by all intact layers of the arterial vessel wall.

False Aneurysm (Pseudoaneurysm)

A localized hematoma contained by surrounding fibrous tissue that communicates with the arterial lumen through a defect in the arterial wall.

Ectasia

An arterial expansion or dilatation that measures less than $50\text{\%}$ of the normal arterial diameter.

Arteriomegaly

Diffuse arterial dilatation extending over a long distance that exceeds $50\text{\%}$ of the normal diameter.

Knee-Chest Position Test

A clinical diagnostic maneuver used to distinguish a true pulsating arterial swelling (which remains pulsating) from a transmitted mass swelling (which loses pulsation in this position).

Buerger's Disease (Thromboangiitis Obliterans)

A non-atherosclerotic, inflammatory vasculo-occlusive disease occurring in young, smoking individuals presenting with severe digital ischemia and pain.

Raynaud's Disease

A vasospastic disorder occurring predominantly in young females, characteristically affecting both hands symmetrically upon exposure to cold or emotion, displaying sequential color changes of pallor, cyanosis, and redness.

Varicose Veins

Dilated, elongated, and tortuous superficial veins with a diameter greater than $3\text{\,mm}$.

Reticular Veins

Dilated, elongated, and tortuous superficial veins measuring between $1\text{\,mm}$ and $3\text{\,mm}$ in diameter.

Telangiectasia

Dilated intradermal venules measuring less than or equal to $1\text{\,mm}$ in diameter.

Incompetent Perforator

A condition in which valves within perforating veins fail, resulting in reversed venous blood flow from the deep to the superficial venous system.

Saphena Varix

A localized blow-out expansion against an incompetent saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) that presents as a compressible, reducible, non-pulsating groin swelling.

May-Thurner Syndrome

Extrinsic mechanical compression of the left common iliac vein by the overlying right common iliac artery, leading to left leg venous outflow obstruction and DVT.

Trendelenburg Operation

A surgical technique for primary varicose veins involving high ligation and flush disconnection of tributaries at the saphenofemoral junction combined with stripping of the great saphenous vein.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

A condition in which venous walls or valves fail to function effectively, resulting in impaired venous return and elevated venous pressure.

Superficial Thrombophlebitis (STP)

An inflammatory condition of superficial veins accompanied by thrombosis, clinically presenting as a tender, cord-like palpable structure with localized redness.

Virchow's Triad

The three major etiologic factors contributing to thrombosis: vessel wall injury, venous stasis, and hypercoagulability.

Phlegmasia Alba Dolens

An acute, severe deep vein thrombosis presentation ("painful white leg") caused by arterial spasm secondary to massive venous occlusion, resulting in absent pulses.

Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens

An advanced, life-threatening form of acute deep vein thrombosis ("painful blue leg") characterized by severe venous congestion, intense cyanosis, and profound swelling.

Hemangioma

The most common benign vascular tumor of infancy, characterized by endothelial cell proliferation, non-visibility at birth (appearing $3 - 6\text{\,weeks}$ post-natally), and ultimate spontaneous regression.

Vascular Malformations

Inborn structural developmental errors of blood vessels present at birth that grow proportionally with the child, lack endothelial cell proliferation, and do not regress.

Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS)

A congenital vascular anomaly characterized by the triad of capillary vascular malformations (port-wine stain), venous malformations or varicosities, and soft tissue or skeletal limb hypertrophy.

Acute Lymphangitis

Acute bacterial infection of lymphatic channels, typically caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus species, marked by painful red tracking lines along the affected limb.

Lymphedema

The progressive accumulation of protein-enriched interstitial fluid caused by impaired lymphatic drainage.

Stewart-Treves Syndrome

A rare, highly malignant lymphangiosarcoma arising as a late complication of severe, long-standing chronic lymphedema.

Role of 6s (AVF Maturation)

The assessment criteria for arteriovenous fistula maturation at $6 - 8\text{\,weeks}$ post-operation, defined by access blood flow $\ge 600\text{\,mL/min}$, vein diameter $\ge 6\text{\,mm}$, and depth below skin $\le 6\text{\,mm}$.

Catheter Malfunction (Hemodialysis)

The failure to achieve an adequate blood flow rate defined as less than $300\text{\,mL/min}$ or falling below $200\text{\,mL/min}$ on a single occasion.

Dialysis Access Steal Syndrome

Ischemia occurring distal to a vascular access site due to blood being diverted away from the distal extremity into the low-resistance vascular access circuit.

Endovascular Surgery

A minimally invasive surgical approach managing vascular lesions percutaneously through a remote vessel entry site or needle puncture.