What are the Key Components of a Vascular Assessment?
The key components of a vascular assessment include:
1. Visual Inspection: Observing the skin for color changes, ulcers, or signs of infection. 2. Palpation: Checking for pulses in various arterial points to assess blood flow. 3. Auscultation: Listening for bruits using a stethoscope to detect turbulent blood flow. 4. Measuring Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): Comparing blood pressure in the ankle and arm to diagnose peripheral artery disease. 5. Capillary Refill Time: Testing how quickly blood returns to the capillaries after compression to assess perfusion.
