Arterial disease ulcers, part 1: clinical diagnosis and investigation.

Arterial disease (peripheral vascular disease) is the result of narrowing of the blood vessel lumen. The classic clinical signs need to be recognized early before progression to arterial predominant disease and limb ischemia. Arterial ulcers or tissue breakdown can result from trauma, infection, or other etiologies with diabetes, smoking, increasing age, and hypertension the most important risk factors. Diagnostic testing starts with a palpable pulse with special investigation including handheld Doppler for ankle brachial pressure index ratios, segmental duplex leg Doppler waveforms, and more specialized procedures, including transcutaneous oxygen saturation.