Aortic Aneurysm Flashcards
What are the signs and symptoms?
usually asymptomatic
abdominal and back pain
palpable pulsatile abdominal mass, hypotension
What first line investigation and other tests to consider?
abdominal ultrasound
CRP, FBC, blood cultures, CT, MRI, aortography
When is repair surgery used?
diameter exceeding 5.5cm in men and 5cm in women, symptomatic or asymptomatic
What are the complications of treatment?
cardiac and pulmonary events, mesenteric ischaemia, renal failure, bleeding
What are the main risk factors?
smoking, male, age, marfan’s syndrome
How would you treat an acute ruptured AAA?
resus, urgent surgery, perioperative antibiotics
How would you treat an acute symptomatic but not ruptured?
semi urgent surgery
What is it?
dilation of the aorta
Aetiology?
atherosclerotic disease, altered tissue metalloproteinases
Pathophysiology?
loss of collagen and elastin in the media and adventitia
smooth muscle cell loss
lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration
What types do you get?
congenital, infectious, inflammatory
