Aortic and Peripheral Arterial Diseases (Nichols) Flashcards
an abnormal localized dilation of an artery, vein, or heart itself
aneurism
What layers of a vessel are involved?
all 3 are BALLOONED OUT
how is a false aneurysm different than a true aneurysm?
pseudoaneurysm is a RUPTURE of 1, 2, or 3 layers
if only or 2 layers, the adventitia is holding it together
if adventita is involved, then a perivascular thrombus is holding it together
What are the risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm?
elderly family Hx smoking** Male HTN** Hyperlipidemia
Where in the bidy are aortic aneurysms most common?
abdomen (75%)
What is a universal finding with aneurysms?
thrombus formation (due to abn blood flow)
At the periphery of the aneurysm there is ____ flow and at the surface of an aneurysm there is _____ flow
stasis
turbulent
T or F: emboli can occur from thrombi that form at the site of an aneurysm.
T
What is the pathogenesis of aneurysms?
combo of
- artherloscleroerosis
- genetically determined degeneration of T media
* 2 hit disease
WHat is the microscopic manifestation of aneurysms?
“cystic media degeneration”
fragmentation an loss of elastic fibers –>
cystic areas of myxoid matrix
Aneurysms are a disease of the _____
artherlosclerosis is a disease of the ____
What is the link between these
T media (loss of elastic tissue in muscle) T intima
Artherlosclerosis causes inflammation and it is thought that the inflammation in the T media spills over into the T media and causes destruction
person says “I dont feel good” then drops over dead
What killed them
AAA
marfan syndrome and Erlos Danlos
aortic aneurysm without artherlosclerosis
What is the 4 etiologies of aneuyrsms?
- spillover inflammation from artherlosclerosis brings MMPs which degrades collagen in T media
- Genetic: defects in fibrillin or collagen (marfan’s syndrome)
- infection
- vasculitis (giant cell arteritis)
giant cell arteritis
vasculitis as an etiology of AAA
What is the major determinant of whether the aneurysm will rupture?
the diameter of the bulge
**greater the diameter = greater risk of rupture
What are the 5 complications of aneurisms?
- rupture
- thrombus formation
- embolism of artheroma or thrombus
- obstruction of aortic branches
- aortoenteric fistula
continuous pounding of the wall of the aorta onto bowel –> damage to wall of intestines –> channel between aorta and bowel made –> blood goes into bowel
aortoenteric fistula
difference between a aortic dissection and an aortic aneurysm
dissection is a hole causing a bulge and aneurism is a bulge
dissection is a surgical emergency and an aneurysm is not
Symptoms of aortic aneurysm
Signs
Dx
Tx
usually none but may cause back pain if leaking, sometimes there is a pulsatile mass that is palpable in thin patients
none
imaging (ultrasound)
stenting or open repair
catastrophic tear of the tunica intima letting luminal blood enter under high pressure into the T media where it tunnels a 2nd lumen
aortic dissection
Aortic dissection is always _____
a medical emergency
Type A aortic dissection involves the _____
B involves ___
Which is more common? serious?
ascending aorta
descending aorta
A and A
Aortic dissection is most common in
black (middle aged)
What is the pathogenesis of aortic dissection?
intimal tear: cannot tell
medial tear: assc with cystic medial degeneration (degenerative disease)
false lumen
aortic dissection