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Arterial Diagnostics

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Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is critical to achieving optimal wound healing. This is particularly true of chronic lower extremity wounds, where PAD remains one of most common etiologies. Below we will review a variety of diagnostic modalities including noninvasive vascular labs, cross-sectional imaging techniques, and angiography. Initial diagnosis frequently relies on noninvasive labs, of which the ankle brachial index (ABI) is the cornerstone. Additional noninvasive studies used to confirm disease, assess severity, and identify location are duplex ultrasound (DUS), segmental limb pressures, and pulse volume recordings (PVR).

Once severity of disease is determined, the next step is to plan a management strategy, which often requires cross-sectional imaging, such as computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or catheter-based angiography. Additional studies can estimate the level of tissue perfusion, such as transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) as well as novel techniques such as hyperspectral imaging, optical coherence tomography, microvascular oxygen saturation, and skin perfusion pressure. In this chapter we will explore these techniques and the evidence underpinning use and briefly discuss novel diagnostic approaches.

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Correspondence to Samir K. Shah MD .

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Three-dimensional reconstruction of a CT angiogram in a patient with abdominal aortic ectasia and bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms (MOV 3250 kb) (MOV 3250 kb)

Angiogram demonstrating bilateral proximal common iliac artery stenosis (MOV 1393 kb) (MOV 1393 kb)

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Trocha, K., Shah, S.K. (2018). Arterial Diagnostics. In: Orgill, D. (eds) Interventional Treatment of Wounds. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66990-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66990-8_14

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