Edema

Edema

by Professor Rhonda White, MSPT

​Prairie State College

​PTA Program

Multiple Choice

Fluid accumulation within a joint capsule or cavity is the definition of:

• effusion

• edema

Multiple Choice

What does DVT stand for?

• Deep-vein thrombosis

• Doppler-vein thrombosis

• Dance-vinegar thyme

• Deep-vein telemetry

Multiple Choice

What results from a clot breaking free and travelling to the lungs?

• PA

• PE

• PT

• PTA

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE: One of the most common non-disease-related causes of edema is immobilization and inactivity

• TRUE

• FALSE

​Ruling out a DVT

​This table is used to determine the likelihood of a patient testing positive for a DVT

​Assesment of Pitting Edema

1. ​The patient may be seated or supine (record position)

2. ​Press your thumb (you can use your first and second finger as well.) firmly, but gently into the patient's skin and hold for 5 seconds

3. ​Remove the pressure and determine the depth of the indentation that remains and make note of how long it takes for the indentation to disappear

4. ​Compare your findings (see table 6-6 p.128 Fruth)

   YOU WILL NEED TO ACCURATELY RECORD YOUR FINDINGS FOR THE SKILL CHECK!

Multiple Choice

How many seconds should you hold your thumb/fingers in the skin of a patient you are assessing for pitting edema?

• 0.5 seconds

• 5.5 seconds

• 5 seconds

• 5 minutes

​Measurement of Edema

• ​Patient is either seated or supine

• ​Use a tape measure

• ​Select circumferential areas to measure (skill check is of the ankle)

  • ​Use bony landmarks (easy for reassessment)

  • ​Encircle the area to measure and pull firmly

  • ​Record in centimeters

  • ​Compare to uninvolved side, if present

​References

1. ​1. Fundamentals of Test and Measures; Fruth & Fawcett

2. ​2. Edema Assessment-Physiopedia