KU Vascular Surgery Evaluating a Patient with Vascular Disease Symptoms Intermittent Claudication Ischemic muscle pain that results from inadequate blood flow. Classic lesion described as a cramping pain that occurs with excercise and is relieved with rest. Patients describe it as tiredness or weakness in thighs or buttocks. Rest Pain Usually indicates more severe disease, pain is constant due to insufficent blood supply. Occurs most often at night when patients are sleeping, relieved when patients gets up to walk around.
Patients often compensate by sleeping with their feet hanging over the side of the bed.
Impotence Most commonly associated with thigh and buttock cluadication, usally due to aortoiliac insufficiency. Also seen in hypogastric insufficiency. Focal or generalized neurological symptoms which last less than 24 hours. One of the most important factors for peripheral vascular disease. Hypertension Association with cardiac disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms.