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Inspection

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The patient may be in pain. Observe:

  • position - in severe arterial insufficiency, the patient may only be comfortable sitting with the leg hanging over the side of the bed, gravity assisting blood flow

  • areas of trophic change:
    • skin discoloration
    • hair loss
    • fissured nails
    • muscle wasting - e.g. quadriceps diameter 10 cm from the pubic tubercle

  • venous guttering - more significant if present without raising the legs

  • pressure necrosis, especially on bony prominences

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