Question

A 47-year-old patient has smoked for 25 years. The patient has a history of cardiovascular disease and now he has noticed his lower legs have been aching and are pale, hairless, and diminished or absent pulses.

• Develop assessment questions you would ask this patient to learn more about his problem.
• Explain the most likely pathophysiology.
• Describe the structures of the circulatory system most likely impacted by the patient’s symptoms.
• Describe key considerations regarding the education for the patient and his significant others regarding the patient’s symptoms
• Use at least 2 scholarly sources to support your initial post.

Answer 1

Assessment questions to be included are type of pain, the patient usually complains of claudication(muscle pain on mild exertion like walking a few feet). This includes the onset, duration, type of pain and its aggrevating and relieving factors.

He should be asked about his smoking history which includes what he smokes, how much he smokes per day and for how long has he been smoking

Pathophysiology of this condition(PAD-Peripheral Artery Disease) is due to the blockade of the arteries supplying blood to the lower limbs usually secondary to atherosclerosis.

The arteries affected by PAD include:

• Femoral
• Renal
• Abdominal aorta
• iliac arteries
• popliteal
• anterior and posterior tibial
• peroneal, and even
• arm or hand arteries

which leads to failure of kidneys, stomach and most commonly legs

Education for patient and his significant other:

• Self-care: Do regular physical exercise, make sure that smoking is stopped, and heart-healthy diet is followed. His wife should make sure that she is supportive and he quits smoking,she should also have control over his lifestyle, habits and diet.
• If self-care is not enough he should be given medications and surgery(angioplasty) as and when required