AAA Flashcards
What are the two shapes of AAA?
Fusiform - spindle like
Saccular - pouch like
What is the definition of an AAA
when the maximum diameter exceeds more than 50% of normal
therefore a diameter of 3cm
Which shape of AAA is more likely to contain ulcers?
saccular
How is the usually patient to present with AAA
Male over 65
smoking and COPD increases the risk so the patient may also present with these
Do AAA run in families ?
yes
What is the percentage of risk for a 1st degree male relative to have an AAA if someone else has already had one?
30%
In an emergency situation when the aorta is about to rupture, how would the patient present?
sudden onset of severe central and lumbar pain
patient may have hypovoleamic shock (high blood volume loss)
hypotensive and pale
What size of AAA can be operated on?
5.5cm
What three uncommon presentations can a patient with AAA present with?
- fistula (aortoenteric, aortocaval)
- distal obstruction (can cause gangrene)
- occlusion (aortic, ureteric)
Which shape of AAA carry more risks?
saccular
What is the % risk of rupture of an AAA below 5.5cm per year?
below 1%
What are the two forms of surgical repair?
open surgery
endovascular repair
What six investigations should be done before surgery?
CT of abdomen Echo ECG FBC Cardiac perfusion scan CXR
For the patient to be able to survive having their aorta clamped, what does the patient have to have in terms of circulation?
- good collaterals to allow the blood flow to be diverted
What are the four main complications of open surgery ?
- infected graph
- haemorrhage
- cardiac complications
- colonic ischaemia due to the clamped aorta
What happens during open surgery ?
the aorta is clamped to prevent high volume blood lose when the aorta is opened up
the aneurysm part of the aorta is removed and replaced with an artificial graph
What happens during endovascular surgery ?
a graph is instead into the aorta through small groin incisions using x ray to guide the graph up into place
the aneurysm is still present but the graph allows a thinner passage for blood to flow through and slows down the progression of the aneurysm
What are the advantages of endovascular repair?
- small damage to skin as only small incisions are made
- faster recovery time
- more patients will become suitable for the operation
- shorter clinically effective follow up compared to open surgery
- reduced complications
- shorter stay in hospital
What are the disadvantages of endovascular repair?
- the graph (stent) may migrate
- endoleak is a complication when there is blood flow outside the graph in the aneurysm sac
- higher reintervention rates compared to open surgery
- higher complications compared to open surgery
What four ways can risk factors be treated?
aspirin
statins
smoking cessation
antihypertensives
What is the % mortality of a ruptured AAA?
80-90%
By giving aspirin and statins, what risk does this reduce?
- stroke
- peripheral embolism
- embolisms
- further event
- coronary disease
What is a TIA?
transient ischaemic attack
symptoms of a stroke which lasts below 24 hours
What would be the most important investigation to do for a TIA?
Duplex scan!!!
What is a duplex scan used to show?
duplex scan sued ultrasound to show the blood flow through a vessel
different colours are used to show the different directions that the blood is flowing
if the blood is flowing faster at one point then this could show that the blood vessel is thinner at that point and hence there may be atheromatous plaque at that point.