Question

The physician takes your advice, and the patient is asked to do a passive leg raise. What would you see to rule out cellulitis?

a) Increased redness and warmth
b) Decreased redness and warmth
c) No change in redness and warmth
d) Increased swelling

Answer 1

In a passive leg raise test for cellulitis assessment, no change in redness and warmth is expected. This helps differentiate cellulitis from other conditions like deep vein thrombosis where changes might be observed. Monitoring inflammation signs is key in managing cellulitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Passive Leg Raise in Cellulitis Assessment

The passive leg raise test is utilized in medical assessments to help differentiate between conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and cellulitis. Cellulitis is characterized by inflammation and infection of the skin and underlying tissues, presenting with redness, swelling, heat, and pain. When performing a passive leg raise on a patient suspected of having cellulitis, one would expect to see no change in redness and warmth (option c). This is because the increased blood flow and inflammatory response associated with cellulitis are not significantly affected by changes in leg elevation. Observable changes such as increased redness or swelling might suggest that other processes are at play, such as DVT.

Monitoring for the cardinal signs of inflammation, including redness, heat, swelling, and pain, is essential when assessing and managing conditions like cellulitis. If these symptoms are exacerbated after elevation or movement, this might indicate a more severe underlying condition requiring urgent attention.