Aortic Disease

Question 1

Location of Type A aortic dissection

Answer 1

When aorta is ascending

Question 2

Location of Type B aortic dissection

Answer 2

On descending Aorta

Question 3

Causes of Aortic Dissection

Answer 3

Hypertension
Atherosclerosis
Marfan's syndrome 
Bicuspid aortic valve
Trauma

Question 4

Symptoms of Aortic dissection

Answer 4

Severe, sharp chest pain radiating to the back (between scapula)
Collapse (not good)
Stroke

Question 5

Clinical findings of Aortic dissection

Answer 5

Reduced or absent peripheral pulses 
Hypertension or hypotension
BP mismatch between sides
Soft early diastolic murmur (aortic regurgitation)
Pulmonary oedema
Signs of Stroke

Question 6

Investigation for Aortic Dissection

Answer 6

CXR will show a widening of the mediastinum
ECG and Transthoracic echocardiogram may help but not best
CT scan will confirm diagnosis

Question 7

Type A Aortic dissection treatment

Answer 7

Control the blood pressure- beta blocker, IVI nitrate, calcium channel blocker, IVI Sodium nitroprusside

Emergency surgery

Question 8

Type B Aortic dissection treatment

Answer 8

Control the blood pressure-beta blocker, IVI nitrate, calcium channel blocker, IVI Sodium nitroprusside

Percuraneous (endo-vascular) intervention

Question 9

Clinical signs of aortic coarctation

Answer 9

Cold legs
Poor leg pulses
If before left subclavian artery:
Radial – radial and RIGHT radial-femoral delay
If after left subclavian artery:
No radial- radial delay
Right and left radio-femoral delay

Question 10

Symptoms of Aortic coarctation

Answer 10

For an infant: heart failure and failure to thrive

For later in life: Hypertension and CV complications (heart failure, MI, Stroke, aortic dissection)

Question 11

Aortic coarctation treatment

Answer 11

surgery