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Vascular & wounds

Leg ulcers, the acutely ischaemic limb and the diabetic foot, for medical students.

Written and clinically reviewed by , consultant minimally invasive and bariatric surgeon, Al-Makassed Hospital, Jerusalem, and Assistant Professor of Surgery, Al-Quds University. Last updated .

Vascular patients are told apart mostly by the history: where the pain is, when it comes on, and what the patient does to relieve it. Start with the three types of leg ulcer, then the two limb emergencies that must not wait — the cold leg and the infected diabetic foot.

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GuideLeg ulcersVenous, arterial or neuropathic: told apart by the history.

Practise

Clerk this patientLeg ulcerA simulated patient with a scored debrief.Model clerkingSudden painful cold legAcute limb ischaemia: a model clerking.Model clerkingNon-healing diabetic foot ulcerA model clerking with key boxes.OSCE stationVTE prophylaxis after cancer surgeryA prescribing station.

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Wells score (DVT and PE)

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