Medicine Notes - Clinical Examination - Peripheral Vascular System ( Venous System )
Venous System Examination
There are two prominent veins which are important while performing venous system assessments. These are short saphenous vein and long saphenous vein. Short saphenous vein runs through the posterior aspect of the calf and joins the popliteal vein at the saphenopopliteal junction behind the knee. Long saphenous vein runs through the medial aspect of the thigh and the calf and later join the femoral vein at the saphenofemoral junction.
The examination begins by inspecting for any scar from previous surgery, swelling and change in the color of the limbs. In certain case, varicose vein may present with dilation and tortuosity of the superficial veins. Used the back of the hand to assess the temperature. Cold is associated with ischemic of the leg.
Observe for the present of any ulcers. Patient may also present with lipodermatosclerosis and hemosiderin depositions. Both of these cases are associated with increase in the venous pressure. Hemosiderin may present with brown pigmentation in the skin due to oxidization of the iron. Lipodermatosclerosis may present with sclerosis of the skin with fibrin deposition into the skin.
Trendelenburg test is performed to identify and rule out the incompetency of the saphenofemoral junction. In this test the leg is elevated and blood is milk from the leg. Pressure is applied to the saphenofemoral junction. The patient is asked to stand. The blood may not refill in cases of the incompetency of the saphenofemoral junction. If the veins refill, the defect is below the saphenofemoral junction.
There are two prominent veins which are important while performing venous system assessments. These are short saphenous vein and long saphenous vein. Short saphenous vein runs through the posterior aspect of the calf and joins the popliteal vein at the saphenopopliteal junction behind the knee. Long saphenous vein runs through the medial aspect of the thigh and the calf and later join the femoral vein at the saphenofemoral junction.
The examination begins by inspecting for any scar from previous surgery, swelling and change in the color of the limbs. In certain case, varicose vein may present with dilation and tortuosity of the superficial veins. Used the back of the hand to assess the temperature. Cold is associated with ischemic of the leg.
Observe for the present of any ulcers. Patient may also present with lipodermatosclerosis and hemosiderin depositions. Both of these cases are associated with increase in the venous pressure. Hemosiderin may present with brown pigmentation in the skin due to oxidization of the iron. Lipodermatosclerosis may present with sclerosis of the skin with fibrin deposition into the skin.
Trendelenburg test is performed to identify and rule out the incompetency of the saphenofemoral junction. In this test the leg is elevated and blood is milk from the leg. Pressure is applied to the saphenofemoral junction. The patient is asked to stand. The blood may not refill in cases of the incompetency of the saphenofemoral junction. If the veins refill, the defect is below the saphenofemoral junction.
