A peripheral vascular examination is a medical examination to discover signs of pathology in the peripheral vascular system. It is performed as part of a physical examination, or when a patient presents with leg pain suggestive of a cardiovascular pathology. The exam includes several parts: Position/lighting/draping Inspection Palpation Auscultation Special maneuvers Position/lighting/draping Position – patient should be lying in the supine position and the bed or examination table should be flat. The patient's hands should remain at their sides with their head resting on a pillow. Lighting – adjusted so that it is ideal. Draping – the legs should be exposed, the groin and thigh covered. Drapes are usually placed between the legs. Inspection On inspection the clinician looks for signs of: trauma previous surgery (scars) muscle wasting/muscle asymmetry edema (swelling) erythema (redness) ulcers – arterial ulcers tend to be on the borders / sides of the foot, neuropathic ulcers on the plantar surface of the foot, venous ulcers tend on be on the medial aspect of the leg superior to the medial malleolus. hair – hair is absent in peripheral vascular disease (PVD) shiny skin – seen in PVD Haemosiderin deposits Lipodermatosclerosis Palpation Temperature – cool suggest poor circulation, sides should be compared Pitting edema – should be tested for in dependent locations – dorsum of foot, if present then on the shins. If the patient has been in bed for a longer period of time one should check the sacrum. Capillary refill – should be less than 3 seconds. Arterial pulses Dorsalis pedis artery pulse – on dorsal surface of the foot, running lateral to the tendon of the first toe Posterior tibial artery pulse – posterior and inferior to the medial malleolus Popliteal artery pulse – behind the knee, typically done with both hands Femoral artery pulse – in the femoral triangle / halfway between the ASIS and pubic tubercle Auscultation For femoral artery bruits Special maneuvers Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) assesses peripheral vascular disease. It may however be unreliable in patients with calcified arteries in the calf (often diabetic patients) or those with extensive oedema, in which case toe pressure or Toe-brachial pressure index (TBPI) should be measured to aid in the diagnosis. Venous refill with dependency (should be less than 30 seconds) – the vein should bulge outward within 30 seconds of elevation for one minute. Buerger's test (assessment of arterial sufficiency):With the patient supine,