Aneurysms and Peripheral Vascular Disease Flashcards
What is an aneurysm?
abnormal localized dilation (outpouching) of an artery, vein or heart
What is a pseudoaneurysm? What can cause it?
contained ruptures of the tunica intima and media and (sometimes) adventitia of an artery. Can be due to trauma, infection, or surgery.
What is the difference between a saccular and fusiform aneurysm?
A saccular aneurysm is a discrete outpouching that usually contains a thrombus. A fusiform aneurysm is a circumferential dilation of a blood vessel.
What is an aortic dissection?
a catastrophic tear of the tunica intima letting luminal blood under high pressure into the tunica media–where it tunnels a second lumen
What is a type A dissection?
involving ascending aorta (proximal lesion)- surgical emergency! More common 2/3 of cases
What is a type B dissection?
beginning beyond the subclavian artery (distal lesion affecting ONLY the descending aorta)- not a surgical emergency
What is ectasia?
generalized dilation usually associated with aging
What is the biggest difference between ectasia and an aneurysm?
NOT localized—whole things is ballooned out so you have less of a problem because no turbulent flow!
Are false aneurysms stable?
NO they are unstable and prone to bursting (losing their containment)
Who gets aortic aneurysms?
elderly white males who smoke, have HTN and have hyperlipidemia
Where is the most common place for aortic aneurysms?
abdomen (75%)
Describe the pathogenesis of aneurysms.
Increased matrix metalloproteinases (which remodel arteries) and decreased tissue inhibitors of MMPs will allow spillover inflammation from atherosclerosis to injure and weaken the tunica media
Is inflammation always related to aneurysms?
NO, genetic defects in fibrillin (Marfan syndrome) or collagen (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) can weaken the tunica media and presdispose to aneurysms
What markers of inflammation can usually be found in the blood of someone who is forming an aneurysm?
CRP and IL-6
Other than genetic disorders and spillover inflammation from atherosclerosis, what can cause aneurysms?
infection (called “mycotic” even when not fungal, which is most of the time)
vasculitis (e.g. giant cell arteritis)
What is cystic medial degeneration?
ischemic changes in outer media leading to smooth muscle cell loss and “degenerative changes” in the aorta (fibrosis, inadequate ECM synthesis, and accumulation of amorphous proteoglycans)
What symptoms MAY you see in someone with aortic aneurysms?
back pain (if leaking) Pulsatile mass (palpable in thin patients)
What is the best way to diagnose an aortic aneurysm?
ultrasound
What is the major complication of aortic aneurysms?
rupture
What is the major determinant of aneurysm rupture?
diameter (over 5 cm significantly increases risk of rupture)
How/when do you treat an aortic aneurysm? Why?
when >5 cm in diameter, surgically managed (with endoluminal stent graft) because 5% survival if managed, 50% mortality if rupture!
What is the major factor in the rate of aneurysm growth?
blood pressure (hypertension accelerates aneurysm growth)
List other complications of aortic aneurysms?
Mural thrombus formation (universal)
Embolism from the atheroma or thrombus
Obstruction of aortic branches
Aortoenteric fistula (aorta erodes passage into the intestine
True or false: aortic aneurysms are familial.
TRUE (if you know of a person with AAA, you probably want to screen siblings)
True or false: aortic dissections are very common.
FALSE- they are uncommon- only around 2,000 in the US every year
Who gets aortic dissections?
late middle aged black men who have hypertension (2/3 of cases) OR younger patients with Marfan syndrome OR in late pregnancy