Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Appropriate Assessment & Diagnostic Tests to Determine Vascular Supply

PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS*
  • Intermittent claudicationG (calf pain)
  • Peripheral pulses
  • Colour (pallorG on limb elevation,  rubor on limb dependency, mottling)
  • Cool temperature
  • Ischemic pain (pain causing frequent waking  at night,  or needing to dangle limb for pain relief)
  • Dry gangrene
  • Hair loss, dystrophic nails (damaged or misshaped nail plates)
  •  Shiny, taut, thin, dry skin
  • Ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI)G
  • Toe pressuresG and toe brachial index
  • Arterial duplex scan
  • Transcutaneous oxygen
  • Angiography (including CT angiogram and MR angiogram)

*Accessibility of these diagnostic tests may be limited to centres specializing in vascular surgery and wound care.

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