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 client’s 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
 Buerger’s Disease
(Thromboangitis Obliterans)
and Raynaud’s Disease
 Buerger’s 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
Raynaud’s Disease
• 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
• Allen’s 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 A. Buerger’s
claudication Disease
2. Pain B. Raynaud’s
3. Vasospasm Disease
4. Inflamed blood C. Both
vessels D. Neither
5. Intermittent
color changes of
the fingers
Thrombophlebitis and
Varicose Veins
 Thrombophlebitis Varicose Veins
• Clot in the vein with • Weakening of the venous
inflammation of the wall of valves leading to pooling of
the vein blood
• S&Sx: • S&Sx:
o Tortuous vein
o Unilateral leg edema w/ (+) Homan’s o Dull ache and heaviness in the legs
sign
o Mild edema
o Severe pain at site o Itching of the skin over the affected
o Fever, chills, swelling and cyanosis part
of site
• Doppler UTZ detects the
• Venography reveals a clot presence or absence of venous
• N. Dx: Altered tissue reflux
perfusion • N. Dx: Altered tissue
• Intervention: perfusion
o DO NOT MASSAGE THE • Intervention
AFFECTED LEG o Elevate the legs
o Increase fluid intake o Avoid crossing of legs at knees
o Monitor leg edema o Avoid prolonged sitting and standing
o Avoid constrictive clothing
o Prepare the client for surgery
Quick Recall
Manifestation Disease
1. Edema A. Thrombophlebit
2. Pain is
3. Homan’s sign B. Varicose vein
4. Tortuous vein C. Both
5. Intermittent D. Neither
claudication
End