Aorta and PAD clinical Flashcards

1
Q

What is an aneurysm?

ii. what is the difference between a true and a false aneurysm

A

An artery with a dilation >50% of its original diameter

an aorta >1.5 times expected size, which is generally defined as aorta >3cm

ii. true aneurysm involves all layers of arterial wall a false one doesn’t

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2
Q

What are the causes of an abdominal aorta aneurysm?

A

Atheroma

trauma

hypertension

smoking

genetics (marfans)

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3
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of ruptured AAA?

A

Intermittent or continuos abdominal pain (radiates to back,illiac fossae or groin)

collapse and shock

pulsatile

may be tachycardic/hypotensive

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4
Q

How do you diagnose ruptured AAA?

A

Abdominal US

CT

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5
Q

How do you manage ruptured AAA?

A

Surgical repair: open or endovascular.

Infra renal: EVAR (enter from femoral artery). Endovascular aortic repair

Supra renal: TVAR (enter from thoracic aorta). thoracic endovascular aortic repair

screening programme:

Should be offered to all men > 65.

Thought to be safe to monitor all aneurysms <5.5cm in size.

In aneurysms >5.5cm, surgical repair should be offered but mortality can be up to 50%.

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6
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of unruptured AAA?

A

often asymptomatic

May be picked up incidentally on abdominal exam.

On examination: pulsatile abdominal mass.

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7
Q

How do you diagnose unruptured AAA?

A

abdominal US

CT

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8
Q

How do you manage unruptured AAA

A

screening programme

elective surgery : if >5.5cm

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9
Q

what is aortic dissection?

A

It is the splitting within the tunica media . This creates a false lumen where blood now travels through - very dangerous.

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10
Q

What are the risk factors of aortic dissection?

A

Hypertension.

Trauma including surgery.

Connective tissue disease: Marfans. associated with aortic root dilation. causes aortic regurgitation

Inherited diseases: Turners syndrome. associated with coarcation of aorta

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11
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of aortic dissection?

A

sudden chest pain (+/-) radiation to back

Radial – radial pulse delay.

Unequal BP between both arms

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12
Q

How do you diagnose and manage aortic dissection?

A

Diagnostic investigation: CT or MRI or TOE (transeophageal echocardiogram)

Management:
Analgesia.

B blockers – reduce cardiac output and amount of blood being forced into the dissection. or CCB if B blockers are contraindicated

Open or endovascular repair.

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13
Q

What are the categories for the symptoms of Peripheral artery disease?

ii. which stages suggest critical limb ischaemia

A

Stage I – asymptomatic

Stage II – intermittent claudication

Stage III – rest pain/nocturnal pain

Stage IV – necrosis/gangrene.

ii. stage 3/4

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14
Q

What do people complain of if they have intermitten claudication?

A

Cramping pain in the calf, thigh or buttock after walking for a given distance and is relieved by rest

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15
Q

What are the symptoms of critical limb ischaemia? (severe form of PAD)

A

Ulceration, gangrene and foot pain at rest

burning pain at night relieved by hanging legs over side of bed

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16
Q

What are arterial ulcers?

A

Punched out ulcer that are usually small and circular.

Found on the lateral surface of the ankle.

Intensely painful.

17
Q

What are the signs of peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

A

absent femoral, popliteal or foot pulses

cold white legs

atrophic skin

punched out (arterial ulcers)

buerger’s angle (angle that leg goes pale when raised off the couch)

18
Q

How do you diagnose PAD?

A

Ankle brachial pressure index: To calculate it divide ankle pressure/brachial pressure

  1. 0.9-1.2 - normal
  2. 0.4-0.85 - claudication
  3. 0.-0.4 - severe

Duplex ultrasound scanning. (first line)

Invasive- MR angiography, CT angiography

19
Q

What can effect the ABPI ratio?

A

calcified vessels due to diabetes and chronic renal failure

doppler signal.

20
Q

How do you manage PAD?

A
  1. Slowing down progression
    e. g. stop smoking, lipid lowering, antiplatelets treating hypertension diabetes
  2. exercise: 30 mins three times a week
  3. surgical:

Stenting.
Bypass graft.- inflow and outflow bypass
Sympathectomy.
Amputation.

21
Q

What are the causes of acute limb ischaemia?

A

Thrombosis - more likely from vasculopaths causing emboli and thrombosis to complete occlusion

22
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of acute limb ischaemia?

A

6 P’s

Pale

pulseless

painful

paralysed

paraesthetic

perishingly cold

23
Q

How do you mange acute limb ischaemia?

A

urgent open surgery or angioplasty

anticoagulate with heparin and look for source of emboli

24
Q

What conditions can increase the deep vein pressure?

A
  1. deep valve incompetence

2. deep vein obstruction.

25
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of chronic venous disease?

A

Varicose veins

pain
cramps

tingling

heaviness

restless

oedema

venous eczema

ulcers

chronic venous insuffiency:

haemosiderin: iron deposits which give legs red brown colour
lipodermatoscerosis: causes skin to swell and harden

26
Q

What are varicose veins?

A

Dilated, tortuous superficial veins, due to the abnormal transmission of deep vein pressure

27
Q

What are the risk factors of varicose veins?

A

prolonged standing

obesity

pregnancy

family history

contraceptive pill

28
Q

What investigations can be used for chronic venous disease?

A

Duplex scan

State of the deep veins (occlusions or incompetence)

Saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal incompetence

29
Q

How do you manage chronic venous disease?

A

education - exercise don’t stand on legs to long and weight loss
treat underlying cause

  1. Endovenous (Duplex guided)
    Foam sclerotherapy - chemical
  2. Endovenous (Duplex guided)
    Endovenous ablation- mechanical-physical

surgical- removal of vein