Free Cardiac/Vascular Nurse Exam Secrets Study Guide by Mometrix Media Page B

sitting such as long car trips, plane trips or prolong bed rest as well as recent surgery, fractures, childbirth, and use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. Malignancy and smoking are also important risk factors.
     
    Individuals at higher risk for deep venous thrombosis include those with a history of deep venous thrombosis, inherited blood disorders, injury to deep vein from surgery or other trauma, slowed blood flow due to lack of physical activity, pregnancy, recent or ongoing cancer treatment, central venous catheter, obesity, and age over 60.
     
    Deep venous thrombosis can be caused by damage to the vein’s inner lining due to physical, chemical or biochemical factors such as surgery, injury, inflammation, or immune response. Other causes include hindered blood flow and more-viscous blood.
     

Symptoms
    The symptoms of deep venous thrombosis include pain in 1 leg, tenderness in 1 leg, swelling of 1 leg, increased heat or warmth in 1 leg, and discoloration of skin color in 1 leg.
     
    Individuals with deep venous thrombosis may also present with pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include unexplained shortness of breath, pain with deep breathing, coughing up blood, and tachycardia.
     
    A majority of patients diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis may also present with tendonitis, arterial insufficiency, arthritis, asymmetric peripheral edema, cellulites, hematoma, lymphedema, soft tissue injury, neurogenic pain, and postphlebitic syndrome.
     

Diagnosis and screening
    Physical examination, medical history, and diagnostic testing are used to diagnose deep venous thrombosis. Upon physical examination, practicing clinicians may recommend a patient for further diagnostic testing when deep venous thrombosis is suspected.
     
    Diagnostic testing tools include venography, Doppler ultrasound of leg in question, nuclear medicine imaging studies, magnetic resonance imaging, impedance plethysmography of leg, and D-dimer blood test. Other blood tests to evaluate the presence of blood clots include antithrombin III, protein C, protein S, factor V Leiden, prothrombin 2020a mutation, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) test, and lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies.
     

Venous insufficiency
     
    Venous insufficiency is a condition that involves abnormal blood flow through the veins, which can lead to complications such as heart failure and sudden death. Typically, the condition occurs when veins in the legs do not properly send blood back to the heart. Venous insufficiency can be associated with deep venous thrombosis, varicose veins and static dermatitis and ulcers.
     
    The risk of venous insufficiency increases with age, with women over the age of 50 at highest risk for developing the condition. In the United States, the prevalence of venous insufficiency ranges from 7% to 60% on average.
     

Causes and risk factors
    Patients diagnosed with venous insufficiency are also at risk for skin color changes around the ankles, redness of legs and ankles, thickening of skin on legs and ankles, and ulcers on the legs and ankles.
     
    The most common risk factor for venous insufficiency is deep venous thrombosis. Other risk factors include natural aging, pregnancy, limited physical activity, smoking, sitting for long periods of time, obesity, phlebitis, family history, medical history of cardiovascular disease, and presence of other comorbid conditions. Blood pressure that is higher than normal in the leg can also lead to venous insufficiency.
     

Symptoms
    The symptoms of venous insufficiency can vary based on the extent and degree of disease. However, some patients present with few or no symptoms. Also, symptoms may mimic other conditions and should be evaluated by a clinical practitioner to eliminate the presence of other comorbid conditions.
     
    Common symptoms include throbbing, cramping, burning sensations, fatigue, ulcerations that do not heal, varicose veins, fluid