Lecture 16: PAD Part 2 Flashcards
What are the essentials of diagnosing an acute arterial occlusion of a limb?
- Sudden pain in limb + absent limb pulses
- Neurologic dysfunction with numbness, weakness, or complete paralysis
- Loss of light touch = need to revascularize within 3 hours!!!!
What is a thrombus?
- Stable atheroma with fibrous cap ruptures
- Hx of intermittent claudication
- Usually collateral development is present, so not as dramatic
The actual clot on the wall.
What is an embolus?
- Anything that is too large to pass through its vessel
- MCC: Afib
What are the 6 Ps of circulation?
- Pallor
- Pain
- Pulseless
- Paralysis
- Polar/Poikilothermia
- Paresthesias
Poikilothermia = inability to regulate temperature
How do we diagnose an acute occlusion of a limb and what is the best imaging if light touch is compromised?
- Clinical diagnosis
- Doppler is first-line.
When is CTA/MRA primarily used in evaluating acute occlusion of a limb?
In the OR
Takes a while so we don’t want to do it first.
What is the preferred imaging study to evaluate for an embolic source after treating an acute occulsion of a limb?
TEE with bubble study to check for a PFO
How soon do we need to revascularize a symptomatic arterial thrombosis?
3 hours!!
Once we have diagnosed acute arterial occlusion, what is the first step to begin managing it?
A/C using IV heparin bolus
Done after doppler probably
What is the next step in management of a stable arterial occlusion?
Determining whether is it is a PAD thrombus or an embolus
When is a AAA palpable and what is the treatment threshold?
- 80% of 5cm ones are palpable.
- Treat at 5.5cm
How does an AAA present prior to rupture usually?
Asymptomatic
What are the 3 primary symptoms/signs of a ruptured AAA?
- Massive abd pain radiating to the back
- Severe hypotension
- Palpable abdominal mass
When is an AAA considered an actual aneurysm?
Must be greater than 3 cm
Normal aorta is 2cm
Who is AAA MC in, and where is it MC found specifically?
- Men
- Below the renal arteries, at the aortic bifurcation
- Often includes common iliac arteries
What are the primary risk factors for developing an AAA?
- Male
- Smoker
- FMHx
- Age
What are the two major groups of AAAs?
- Fusiform: Circumferential expansion of the aorta
- Saccular: Outpouching of a segment.
How do we find most AAAs?
Incidentally
What is the first presenting symptom of an AAA?
Abdominal pain that is mild to severe and radiating to the back
It will hurt when u press it even a little
Why is an AAA rupture lethal?
Blood into the peritoneal cavity = PAIN
What is the diagnostic study of choice for initial screening to detect an aneurysm?
Abdominal US
When is CT scan indicated for AAA evaluation?
- When you want to treat it because it may be near the 5.5cm threshold.
- Helps with surgical planning once you add contrast.
Once it is approximately 5cm, do a CTA