Diseases of the Aorta Flashcards
Tunica intima
layer of endothelial cells
tunica intima is separated from the tunica media by the
internal elastic lamina
Tunica media is separated from the tunica adventitia by the
external elastic lamina
Tunica media
smooth muscle cells
tunica adventitia
thin connective tissue layer
Atherosclerosis risk factors
hypertension
hypercholesterolaemia
smoking
diabetes
family history
male
Atherosclerosis can lead to..
stroke
myocardial infarction
aneurysm
Aneurysm definition
a localised enlargement of an artery caused by the weakening of the vessel wall
True aneurysm
weakness and dilation of wall
involves all 3 layers
atherosclerosis/hypertension etc
False aneurysm
rupture of the wall of the aorta with the haemotoma either contained within the tunica adventitia or the surrounding soft tissue
signs and symptoms of thoracic aneurysms
asymptomatic
(based on location)
SOB
hoarseness
chest pain
hypotension
Aortic dissection
tear in the inner wall of the aorta
blood forces the walls apart
medical/surgical emergency
Dissection aetiology
hypertension
atherosclerosis
trauma
Marfan’s Syndrome
Aortic dissection histology
cystic medial necrosis
Symptoms of aortic dissection
tearing
severe chest pain
collapse
Aortic dissection examination
reduce or absent peripheral pulses
hypo or hypertension
pulmonary oedema
widened mediastinum
Aortic dissection investigations
CXR
ECho
CT scan
aortic dissection treatment
surgery
BP control
Sodium nitroprusside
beta blocker
Takayasu’s Arteritis
Granulomatous vasculitis
aorta and main branches
stenosis, thrombosis, aneurysms, renal artery stenosis
Takayasu’s arteritis treatment
steroids
surgery
Syphilis
STD
Treponema pallidum
Syphilis treatment of late stages
antibiotics
Tertiary syphilis can lead to
shyphilitic aortitis - aneurysm
aortic regurgitation
Congenital aortic aneurysm can present as
bicuspid aortic valve
coarctation
marfans syndrome
Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital abnormality. it is prone to..
aneurysm and dissection
Coarctation is the
aortic narrowing close to where ductule arterioles inserts
3 types of coarctation
pre-ductal
ductal
post-ductal
Signs of coarctation
cold legs
poor leg pulses
Symptoms of coarctations
infancy - heart failure and failure to thrive
later life - hypertension
