AAA

Question 1

What are abdominal aorta aneurysms? What types?

Answer 1

• Enlargement of the aortic artery caused by a weakness in the arterial wall
• Can be true or false
• True involve all 3 layes

Question 2

What are the causes/risk factors of AAA?

Answer 2

Risk factors:
>Male
>FHx
>Hypertension
>Diabetes
>Smokers

Connective tissues diseases
>Marfans

Question 3

What is the presentation of AAA?

Answer 3

• Usually asymptomatic

* often incidental finding

Question 4

What is the presentation of a rupture AAA?

Answer 4

Signs

• Hypotensive
• Tachycardia

Symptoms

• Acute onset
• Syncope
• Confusion
• Abdo pain acute onset
• Back pain/loin pain
• Vomiting

Question 5

What is the management of a AAA that has not ruptured?

Answer 5

*USS screening months until >5.5cm

Question 6

What factors create a low rupture risk?

Answer 6

• Asymptomatic
• Aortic diameter <5.5cm
• Optimise cardiovascular risk

Question 7

Aortic width size <3cm on USS means? Action?

Answer 7

Normal -no further action

Question 8

Aortic width size 3 - 4.4cm on USS means? Action?

Answer 8

Small aneurysm

Rescan every 12months

Question 9

Aortic width size 4.5 - 5.4cm on USS means? Action?

Answer 9

Medium aneurysm

Rescan every 3 months

Question 10

Aortic width size >5.5cm on USS means? Action?

Answer 10

Large aneurysm

Refer within 2 weeks to vascular surgery for intervention

Question 11

What factors make up a high rupture risk?

Answer 11

• Symptomatic

* aortic diameter >5.5cm

Question 12

When a AAA is over 5.5cm what surgical treatments are there?

Answer 12

• Elective endovascular repair

* Open repair if unsuitable for endovacular repair