Vascular

Diseases
Vascular System Anatomy
Disorders
Aneurysm
Is a sac formed by
dilation of an
artery secondary
to weakness and
stretching of the
arterial wall.
The dilation may
involve one or all
layers of the
arterial wall
Risk Factors
Atherosclerosis
Age: 50-70 years old
Hypertension
Trauma
Syphilis
Infectious process
Classification
Fusiform
Saccular
Dissecting
False
Assessment
Early stage: often asymptomatic
Deep diffuse chest pain
Hoarseness, dysphagia, dyspnea
Pallor, diaphoresis
Distended neck veins, edema or hand and arms
Feeling of heart-beating in the abdomen (if
abdominal aortic aneurysm)
Nursing Intervention
Monitor and improve clients cardiopulmonary state
Record baseline BP (lying, sitting and standing)
in both arms
Provide dependent and other collaborative nursing
interventions
Give meds: antihypertensive drugs
Prepare for UTZ
Surgery: Resection of Aneurysm and
replacement with a Teflon/Dacron graft
Buergers Disease
(Thromboangitis Obliterans)
and Raynauds Disease
Buergers Disease Raynauds Disease
Vasculitis of the small and
medium size veins and
arteries, usually in the lower
extremities.
More common in MEN
S&Sx: Pain; intermittent
claudication, tingling
sensation, impaired pulse,
hair loss in the legs
Leg angiography reveals
inflammatory lesions
Nrsg Dx: Altered peripheral
tissue perfusion
Intervention:
o Instruct the client to stop smoking
o Avoid trauma to affected extremity
o Maintenance of warmth during cold
weather
Vasospastic condition of
arteries of hands that occurs
with exposure to cold or
stress
More common in WOMEN
S&Sx: Cyanosis of fingers or
toes after exposure to cold,
numbness and tingling of
digits
Allens Test reveals
circulatory problems
Nrsg Dx: Altered peripheral
tissue perfusion
Intervention:
o Avoid cold weather
o Wear leather gloves when getting
anything from the refrigerator
o Stop smoking
o Administer vasodilators as ordered

Quick Recall
Manifestation Condition
1. Intermittent
claudication
2. Pain
3. Vasospasm
4. Inflamed blood
vessels
5. Intermittent
color changes of
the fingers
A. Buergers
Disease
B. Raynauds
Disease
C. Both
D. Neither
Thrombophlebitis and
Varicose Veins
Thrombophlebitis Varicose Veins
Clot in the vein with
inflammation of the wall of
the vein
S&Sx:
o Unilateral leg edema w/ (+) Homans
sign
o Severe pain at site
o Fever, chills, swelling and cyanosis
of site
Venography reveals a clot
N. Dx: Altered tissue
perfusion
Intervention:
o DO NOT MASSAGE THE
AFFECTED LEG
o Increase fluid intake
o Monitor leg edema

Weakening of the venous
valves leading to pooling of
blood
S&Sx:
o Tortuous vein
o Dull ache and heaviness in the legs
o Mild edema
o Itching of the skin over the affected
part
Doppler UTZ detects the
presence or absence of venous
reflux
N. Dx: Altered tissue
perfusion
Intervention
o Elevate the legs
o Avoid crossing of legs at knees
o Avoid prolonged sitting and standing
o Avoid constrictive clothing
o Prepare the client for surgery


Quick Recall
Manifestation Disease
1. Edema
2. Pain
3. Homans sign
4. Tortuous vein
5. Intermittent
claudication
A. Thrombophlebit
is
B. Varicose vein
C. Both
D. Neither
End