CVS - aortic aneurysm

Question 1

aortic aneurysm

Answer 1

dilation of aorta

Question 2

causes of aneurysm

Answer 2

• Hypertension
• Atherosclerosis
• Tertiary syphilis
• Trauma
• Congenital defects (berry aneurysms)
• Infections (mycotic aneurysms)
  Embolization of a septic emboli (typically from infective endocarditis)
  Extension of adjacent suppurative processes
  Circulating organisms directly infecting arterial wall
  (e.g. bacteraemia from Salmonella gastroenteritis)

Question 3

pathogenesis of aneurysm

Answer 3

• Collagen degradation by local inflammation
• ischemia -> degenerative changes (cystic medial degeration)
• Poor intrinsic quality of vascular wall connective tissue
  
  • marfan’s syndrome: fibrillin defect -> progressive weakening of elastic tissue
    
    • Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: receptor mutation -> abnormal elastin & collagen I & III

Question 4

complications of aortic aneurysm

Answer 4

• Pressure on surrounding structures (lungs, esophagus, recurrent laryngeal nerves)
• Thromboembolism (blood flow disrupted)
• occlusion of coronary arteries
• Rupture with hemorrhage -> bleed into thoracic cavity
• cardiac disease caused by aortic insufficiency