What would a nurse practitioner expect to find in a patient diagnosed with chronic arterial insufficiency?

In a patient diagnosed with chronic arterial insufficiency, one of the key findings is that the legs appear pale upon elevation. This occurs due to inadequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to the tissues resulting from narrowed or blocked arteries. When the legs are elevated, gravity further impedes blood return, leading to increased pallor.

Chronic arterial insufficiency typically manifests with symptoms related to insufficient blood supply. The legs may demonstrate a distinct color change, which can be particularly pronounced when the patient is in a supine position or when the legs are raised above the level of the heart. Upon lowering the legs, a patient may experience a dependent rubor, which is a reddish-blue coloration, resulting from the increased blood flow to the extremities when they are in a dependent position.

Other manifestations of chronic arterial insufficiency can include claudication (pain during exertion), thin or shiny skin, hair loss on the legs, and diminished or absent pulses due to poor circulation. However, edema is not characteristic of arterial insufficiency; it is more commonly associated with venous insufficiency, where venous return is compromised. Therefore, the finding of pale legs upon elevation aligns with the clinical presentation of arterial insufficiency.