“you do not have to be great to make the first step. But you must make the first step in order to become great.” (Corpus Aesthetics). Peripheral vascular disease is an infirmity affecting the blood vessels outside the heart and brain, specifically those in the legs and feet (Min et al., 2021). It is brought about by the formation of fatty materials in the arteries causing them to narrow and become less flexible. This minimizes blood flow to the pretentious areas causing pain, cramping, and other symptoms. It can also amplify the risk of developing blood clots, causing more server complications like a heart attack or stroke. Treatments for peripheral vascular disease entail lifestyle changes like stopping smoking, regular exercising and having a healthy diet and medications to manage symptoms preventing complications. Surgery may be appropriate in more severe cases to restore normal blood flow to the pretentious areas. This essay will explore a case study of a 52-year-old man complaining of pain and cramping in his right calf caused by walking two blocks. From the case study, the essay will explain the cause of the patient’s pain and cramping, why there was decreased hair on the patient’s right leg, the strategic physical assessments after surgery to determine the adequacy of the patient’s circulation, and the intermittent treating claudication for non-occlusion.
The patient’s pain and cramping were generated by a depletion in blood flow to his right leg, mainly because of an arterial blockage in the peripheral femoral artery. This blockage hinders adequate blood supply to the muscles in his right calf, causing pain and cramping during physical activity. The case study indicated that there was decreased hair on his right leg and also reduced pulses in his popliteal, dorsalis pedis, and posterior tibial arteries, highlighting the necessity for the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (Beckman & Creager, 2019). The patient also indicated symptoms of classic intermittent claudication, distinguished by pain during physical activity relieved with rest, habitual of peripheral artery disease. The effective detour surgery from the proximal femoral artery to the popliteal artery repaired blood flow to the pretentious area, leading to the resolution of symptoms.
The reduced hair on the patient’s right leg signals poor blood flow to the leg, likely caused by the arterial blockage in the proximal femoral artery. The blood provision to the legs is crucial for the sustenance of the hair follicles, and the lack of blood flow can lead to reduced hair growth and, to some extent, hair loss (Conta et al., 2021). The condition is termed ischemic alopecia, a. It is mainly seen in patients with peripheral arterial disease or any other kind of vascular disorder. Hence, the reduced hair on the patient’s right leg is a physical manifestation of the basal arterial blockage and faulty blood flow to the legs. It is essential to consider factors that can enable an individual to overcome peripheral arterial disease to avoid such circumstances as that of the patient in the case study.
After the patient undertakes detour surgery for the arterial blockage in the proximal femoral artery, it is essential to carry out strategic physical assessments to decide the adequacy of the patient’s circulation. Such assessments may involve monitoring the patient’s pulse and blood pressure in the pretentious leg and comparing them to the other leg (Maiolino et al., 2021). The patient’s skin color, temperature, and capillary refill time in the pretentious leg have to be assessed. Additionally, the patient may require to carry out exercise testing to assess the prosperity of the detour surgery in enhancing blood flow and relieving symptoms of sporadic lameness. To evaluate the detour graft, ensuring that blood flows to the pretentious leg is enough, it would be essential to perform follow-up imaging studies like Doppler ultrasound and arteriography (Rother et al., 2018). By carrying out such strategic physical assessments, healthcare providers can observe the patient’s progress and adjust their treatment plan appropriately, ensuring the best viable outcomes.
The treatment of intermittent claudication that is not a result of arterial blockage entails lifestyle modification and medication targeted to minimize risk factors for atherosclerosis, the underlying principle of the condition. It
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