Aorta Flashcards
What is the primary reason to have an aorta u/s performed?
It is to identify aneurysms and stenosis of the arteries.
What affects the aorta and its main branches?
- atheroma
- aneursym formation
- connective tissue disorders like cystic medial necrosis and marfan’s syndrome
- rupture
- thrombosis
- infection like syphilis
- displacement by and invasion from diseases in adjacent structures
This is a vascular wall disorder characterized by the presence of lipid deposits in the intima.
atheroma
What is atheroma?
A fatty deposit that builds up in the lining of the arteries throughout the body over a number of years. This deposit narrows the artery and eventually reduces the amount of blood that can get through.
What does plaque in the vessel cause?
Mural irregularity and frequently narrows the vessel lumen
A disease of the arteries in which fatty material and plaque are deposited in the wall of an artery, resulting in narrowing of the arterial lumen and eventual impairment of blood flow is called…
… atherosclerosis.
The condition of having plaque in the arteries is called…
…atherosclerosis.
___ is hardening of the arteries.
Arteriosclerosis
Which condition not only thickens the wall of the arteries but also causes stiffness and a loss of elasticity?
arteriosclerosis
When is arteriosclerosis disease a concern?
Arteriosclerosis may be present in any artery of the body but the disease is most concerning when it attacks the coronary arteries and threatens to cause a heart attack.
What is the most common type of ateriosclerosis?
atherosclerosis
A patient with arteriosclerosis may not have ___, but a patient with atherosclerosis does have ___.
atherosclerosis/arteriosclerosis
What disease most often occurs in the infrarenal portion of the aorta?
stenotic or occlusive disease
The incidence of atheromatous disease increases with ___ and effects more ___ than ___.
age/men/women
What vessels are involved with atheromatous?
aorta, iliac arteries and other aortic branches
Where in the vessel is atheroma commonly seen?
on the posterior wall of the vessel
What causes atheroma?
- cigarette smoking
- diabetes
- HTN (hypertension)
- increased cholesterol (LDL)
Any swelling or localized dilation in a blood vessel, either focal or diffuse, with at least a 50% increase over normal aortic diameter is called…
aneurysm.
What are the types of aneurysm?
- True aneurysm
- False aneurysm (pseudoaneurysm)
- Dissecting aneurysm
Who are 4 times more likely to have AAA?
Male
What are the symptoms of aneurysm?
*usually there are no obvious symptoms of the disease but if any symptoms are present they can be
*abdominal pain that may be constant or come and go
*pain in the lower back that may radiate to the buttocks, groin or legs
the feeling of a heartbeat or pulse in the abdomen
Ultrasound findings for aneurysm are…
- increased aorta diameter ( >3 cm AP dimension)
- focal dilation
- lack of normal tapering distally
- presence of thrombus - thick echogenic echoes, sometimes with shadowing
- occasional dissection
- rupture
How do you analyze AAA?
- maximum true length, width and transverse dimensions
- documentation of shape
- documentation of location, including suprarenal extension or involvement of common iliac vessels
- nature and type of wall thickening (calcified or soft plaque)
- patent channel found and flow pattern characterized with doppler
- examine both kidneys if AAA involves renal arteries