Comprehensive Presentation

Ritika Elenkovan 3A/4A

The Circulatory System

More specifically... Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Brief Overview

Treatment

Etiology

Nursing Care

Diagnosis

Support Organizations

Prognosis

Signs & Symptoms

What is the Circulatory System?

• The circulatory system is made up of blood vessels that carry blood away from and towards the heart

• Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back to the heart.

• The circulatory system carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells, and removes waste products, like carbon dioxide.

• The pulmonary circulation is a short loop from the heart to the lungs and back again.

• The systemic circulation carries blood from the heart to all the other parts of the body and back again.

What is PAD?

• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs such as legs, feet, arms, or hands due to poor circulation

Where/How does PAD Originate in your body?

Etiology

WHERE/ HOW DOES PAD ORIGINATE IN YOUR BODY?

Peripheral arterial disease

It is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the legs or lower extremities, is the narrowing or blockage of the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs.

Signs and Symptoms of PAD:

• No pulse or a weak pulse in your legs or feet
• Shiny skin on your legs
• Hair loss or slower hair growth on your feet and legs
• Hanging your legs over the edge of your bed or walking around your room may temporarily relieve the pain.

• Leg numbness or weakness
• Painful cramping in one or both hips
• Cramps in thighs or calf muscles after certain activities such as walking or climbing stairs
• A change in color of your legs

• Coldness in your lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side
• Hair loss or slower hair growth on your feet and legs
• Pain when using your arms, such as aching and cramping when knitting, writing or doing other manual tasks

Peripheral Artery Disease Doctor Diagnosis

Ankle Brachial Index

Imaging

ABI Procedure

If symptoms are shown, a doctor may do an ankle-brachial index (ABI)Non invasive test that measures blood pressure in the ankles and compares it with the blood pressure of the arm after exercise.

1. Measure systolic pressure in arms. 2. Measure systolic pressure in legs. 3. Divide ankle pressure by brachial pressure. Normal: almost equal or ankle slightly higher. Should be 1.0. Lower ratio means less blood flow.

• ultrasound
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
• computed tomographic (CT) angiography

Prognosis

• The crude five-year death rate among patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease was 33.2%. When adjusted for the duration of follow-up, the rate is 82.4 deaths per 1,000 patient years.
• The death rate for this specific disease, peripheral arterial disease, is not high but does have a risk of death only becuase it can indirectly affect the human body by aiding in other conditions/diseases such as a myocardial infarction or atherosclerosis

Treatment:

If smoking, quit. Talk to your doctor about finding ways to help you quit smoking.

Surgery may be needed to bypass blocked arteriese.g. Coronary Bypass surgery

Aspirin or other antiplatelet medications may be recommended to prevent serious complications and association with atherosclerosis

Nursing Care:

Assess and Promote Circulation

• Monitor pulses, skin color, warmth, sensation, cap refill.
• Position legs below heart level

Provide pain relief

• Encourage walking to improve circulation
• Walk to the point of pain. Rest, then continue to walk further.

Diet teaching (↓Fat, ↓ CHO, ↓ Na+)

• Monitor Carbs

• Encourage more protein, vit. C if ulcers present to promote wound healing
• Encourage smoking cessation (smoking vasoconstrictors, thus slowing everything down)

Support Groups

AHA Support Network

This support network from the American Heart Association lets you share your story and connect with other people who have PAD, find answers to your questions, and learn more about your condition.

Inspire

Inspire™ is a health support and discussion platform where you can find information about PAD and join groups to chat with others about specific topics such as symptoms, stent procedures, and more.

Extra Pages!

Abstract & Reference Page

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