Ratschow storage sample

The Ratschow storage sample is a simple medical test for the detection of arterial circulatory disorders in the lower extremities, such as in PAD . The diagnosis of PAD is then made using the ankle-arm index (ABI).

Course of the test

To perform the Ratschow positioning test, the patient must lie on his back and lift his legs vertically (at an angle of 90 °). Then he performs about 30 ankle movements per minute for a maximum of two minutes or until pain occurs . Patients who cannot hold their legs for that long should support them or let other people hold them.

After this time has elapsed, the patient sits down and lets his legs hang down. The times until the following conditions of vein filling are then measured. In the case of PAOD, these times are generally longer. The following information is a guideline:

Slight diffuse reddening of the feet : Usually this condition is reached within 5 seconds. This takes much longer (20 to 60 seconds) in patients with PAD.
Vein filling on the back of the foot : Normal is up to 20 seconds. Complete venous filling takes more than 60 seconds in PAD patients.

During the Ratschow positioning trial, other signs should be observed: If pain sets in during the leg lift, if it becomes pronounced and persistently pale, or if there is a difference in the color of the feet on the sides, this also speaks for a manifest PAD, even if the filling time is not extended. If the Ratschow positioning sample is positive or if there are other signs of PAD, further diagnostics must be carried out to confirm the suspected diagnosis.

The examination is contraindicated in the advanced stage of PAD (III / IV) and with manifest heart failure .

literature

MM Cooking: Dual Series - General Medicine , Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 978-313-141383-3

Individual evidence

↑ Holger Lawall, Curt Diehm: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) (PDF; 1.1 MB) In: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) . April 27, 2009. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved on May 29, 2012.
↑ Herbert Renz-Polster, Steffen Krautzig, Jörg Braun: Basic textbook for internal medicine with StudentConsult access: compact-tangible-understandable , 4th edition, Urban & Fischer Verlag / Elsevier GmbH, March 7, 2008, ISBN 3437410539 .

[1] Holger Lawall, Curt Diehm: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) (PDF; 1.1 MB) In: Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) . April 27, 2009. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved on May 29, 2012.

[2] Herbert Renz-Polster, Steffen Krautzig, Jörg Braun: Basic textbook for internal medicine with StudentConsult access: compact-tangible-understandable , 4th edition, Urban & Fischer Verlag / Elsevier GmbH, March 7, 2008, ISBN 3437410539 .