Arterial Disease and Aneurysms Flashcards
What are the possible sources of a cardiac embolus?
Atrial fibrillation
Infective endocarditis
Left ventricular aneurysm
What is a possible source of an arterial to arterial embolus?
Thrombus in proximal larger vessel, most commonly ascending aorta
What are some pro-coagulant states that can cause an arterial occlusion?
Pregnancy
Malignancy
Inherited disorders
What are some low flow states that can cause an arterial occlusion?
Severe heart failure
Hypotension
Dehydration
What are the possible causes of an arterial occlusion?
Athero-thrombus Embolism Pro-coagulant state Low flow state Thrombosed aneurysm Dissection Fibromuscular hyperplasia Arteritis Entrapment = compartment syndrome Adventitial cysts
What is fibromuscular hyperplasia?
Congenital anomaly of vessel wall, affecting small to moderate sized muscular arteries
What are adventitial cysts?
Rare condition where cysts form in artery and narrow/occlude blood flow
What is claudication?
Ischaemic pain in exercising muscles
Imbalance between workload of muscles and ability to maintain aerobic metabolism
What metabolite builds up in claudication?
Lactic acid
How is claudication clinically defined?
Calf +/- thigh +/- buttock pain on exertion
Onset and severity related to workload
Relieved with rest
Reproducible
What is Leriche syndrome?
Claudication in common iliac artery causing claudication in - Buttocks - Thighs - Calves Can commonly get erectile dysfunction Common in diabetes
Where does ischaemic rest pain occur?
Most distal part of limb
What does ischaemic rest pain imply?
Perfusion so poor that anaerobic metabolism present in skin and nerves of extremity
What is a common presentation of ischaemic rest pain?
Foot perfusion aided by gravity
Patients wake with burning pain in extremity
Sit up and hang feet over edge of bed for relief
In worse case, spend all night sleeping in chair
What are the patterns of lower limb occlusive disease?
Aorto-iliac
Femoro-popliteal
Tibial/crural
What is the presentation of an aorto-iliac occlusive disease pattern?
Claudication - Calf - Thigh - Buttock Pulses - Reduced femoral and below ?Bruit over aorta/iliac artery
What is the presentation of a femoro-popliteal occlusive disease pattern?
Claudication - Calf Pulses - Reasonable femoral - Weak/absent popliteal and pedal pulses Bruit along line of femoral/popliteal arteries