Journal of vascular nursing : official publication of the Society for Peripheral Vascular Nursing
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Effort thrombosis or Paget-Schroetter syndrome most often affects young, active adults who are engaged in sports activities or whose professions require repetitive arm movements causing trauma to the axillary-subclavian vein and precipitating deep vein thrombosis. The presence of unilateral edema in the upper extremity is often thought to be attributable to trauma from an exercise regimen rather than acute deep vein thrombosis or compression of the subclavian vein by extrinsic anatomic structures. Because this syndrome occurs in young, active adults it has the potential for considerable long-term morbidity if it remains undetected or inadequately treated. ⋯ The purpose of this article is to increase the awareness of the prevalence, clinical significance, and importance of early detection of effort thrombosis of the axillary-subclavian vein, also known as Paget Schroetter syndrome, to educate health care providers regarding the limitations of some diagnostic tools, and to introduce new methods of treatment that offer better long-term results. The prevalence, differential diagnosis, diagnostic modalities, and medical and surgical interventions that have been successfully used to treat Paget-Schroetter syndrome are discussed, and evidence is provided to support the selections. The results of patients who were identified and treated within the last 2 years at the University of Southern California Center for Vascular Care are reviewed.
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Lower limb atherosclerotic disease (LLAD) is a worldwide health problem. Approximately 100,000 Finns have LLAD. Currently, a large number of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) studies are available, but we still have scant comprehensive information of HRQoL of patients with LLAD. ⋯ The HRQoL of middle-aged men was significantly poorer than that of controls. Male sex, retirement, asymptomatic walking distance, other atherosclerotic disease, lack of exercise, and feeling incapable of performing daily activities are important causes of impaired HRQoL. Health care professionals should pay extra attention to the development of rehabilitation programs aimed at preventing patients with LLAD from experiencing a myriad of problems.