Med 1 Flashcards
What is an aneurysm
•Permanent + irreversible dilation of blood vessel. Abdominal or thoracic. Dilation of all 3 layers of arterial wall. Usually asymptomatic.
SYmptoms and signs of a TAA
• Pain (severe sharp back/intrascapular), aortic regurg, systemic symptoms (eg fever if infective cause), thrombo-embolic presentation (DIC), symptoms of compression of local structures )hoarseness, cough, stridor, back pain). If dissection then the severe pain may migrate, inequal upperlimb pulses. If ruptured acute pain, collapse, shock or sudden death.
Physiology of TAA
•Probably inflammation, proteolysis, reduced survival of smooth muscle cells in aortic wall and when reached a diameter, it looses all distensibility so rise in BP can exceed arterial wall strength and may trigger dissection or rupture.
What are causes and RFs of a TAA
- Causes = genetic, CT tissue disorders (Marfan’s, Ehler’s Danlos), infections (HI), aortitis, trauma
- RFs = hypertension, increasing age, smoking, aortic valves, atherosclerosis, COPD, CKD, previous AA repair, Turner syndrome . Marfans – structural weakness in wall of aorta
IX and management for TAA
- Ix = Non acute is bloods, ECG, lung function, US, CT/MRI, coronary angiography. Acute is bloods, ECG, CT with contrast, MRI
- Surveillance, repair, replace
- Complications – dissection, rupture, AV regurg
- Surgery:Immediate(ruptured, acute symptoms), symptomatic 9regardless size), asymptomatic (>5.5cm ascending or ?6cm descending or risk of expansion big
WHat are the types/causes of chest pain
- Ischaemic cardic pain = stable angina, ACS, hypertorphic cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis…
- Non-ischaemic cardiac = arrhythmias, aortic dissection/aneurysm, mitral valve disease
- Respiratory = pneumothorax, PE, Pneumonia, oleurisy, lung cancer.
- MSK = costochondritis , trauma, rib pain
- Breast disease / Skin – herpes zoster infection . Others – sickle cell crisis, diabetea mononeuritis
- GI = GORD, Oesophageal rupture/spasm, peptic ulcer disease, pancreatiis
- Psychological = anxiety, depression, panic disorder
Investigatiobs for chest pain
ECG, CXR, ABG, Bloods, repeat ECG/enzymes, ECHO/ETT.MPS.CTCA/Angiography/MRI, exam
What is the patho of a wheeze
•whistling sound as air passes through a narrowed airway and stops oxygen getting into bloodstream effectively so causes SOB and some chest tightness.
What causes a wheeze
- Asthma – bronchospasm. Cough, wheeze, breathless, chest tightness
- COPD – Chronic bronchitis (inflamm airways), and emphysema (damage to alveoli) mainly form smokinh
- Bronchiectasis – abnormal widening of one or more airways, extra mucus made, prone to infection, cough with sputum and possible blood.
- Bronchiolitis – infection of bronchioles, by RSV
- Inhaled objects (block bronchi), other infections, lung cancer, lung disorders
What is the pathophysiology of breathlessness
•= Body needs more oxygen so try breathe faster to increase flow of air into lungs which then goes into bloodstream and pumped round the body by the heart.
WHta are the respiratory and non respiratory causes of breathlessness
- Respiratory: Airways (COPD, bronchiectasis), Tissue (interstitial lung disease), Perfusion (V/Q mismatch), PE, PA hypertension and other.
- Non-respiratory: Hypoxia related (anaemia, HF, MI), compensatory (acidosis, anxiety)
What are the Types of Hypoxia
•Types Hypoxia: Hypoxic (not enough O2 getting in blood eg, high altitude), Anaemic(insufficient Hb), stagnant (o2 in blood ineffectively circulated, histotoxic (cells cant use sufficient O2)
What is hyperventilation
•= rate or tidal volume breathing eliminates more CO2 than body can produce. Caused by psychological stress, anxiety, head injury, resp disease, cv disease, acidosis. Might also get heart palpitations, numbness, dizziness.
What is cyanosis and the two types
•= blue discolouration skin/mucous membranes form low o2. Central (resp, CV, CNS) or peripheral (reduced CO, hypothermia)
Oxygen Therapy - basic options and target sats
- Oxygen therapy: Mostly should be 94-98% but those at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure (Eg COPD) needed 88-92% as chronic CO2 retainer so less sensitive response to CO2 and need hypoxic drive.
- Nasal cannula up to 4L, Venturi mask (controlled), simple mask (highly variable 1-15L O2), non re-breathe mask (high percentage O2) 10L/15L
What is COPD?
•COPD =
- Airflow limitation + destruction of lung parenchyma. Increased mucus secreting goblet cells in bronchial mucosa and bronchi can become overly inflamed with pus in lumen.
- Decreased mucociliary clearance so increased risk resp infections and need abs and routine vaccinations.
- Microscopic – inflammation, scarring thickening of walls airways, loss elastic recoil, V/Q mismatch
RFs of COPD
•RF = Smoking (over distention of lungs as loss surfactant), Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (inhibits proteolytic enzymes which can destroy alveolar wall CT)
Symptoms and Signs of COPD
- Symptoms = Productive cough with white or clear sputum, wheeze, breathlessness usuallya ftermany years of smokers cough. Colds settle on chest, can have hypertension, osteoporosis, depression, weight loss, reduced muscle mass.
- Signs = May be none or quiet wheezes through chest and in severe then tachypneic with prolonged expiration and accessory muscles, hyperinflated lungs. HF/oedema are terminal events and respiratory failure.
- Pulm Hypertension – cor pulmonale in advanced copd (sign of fluid overload secondary to lung fisease) and RV hypertrophy.
- FEV1<70
Invetsigations for COPD
•Ix = lung function tests (FEV1:FVC reduced), CXR (flattened diaphragms), high res CT, Hb level, packed cell vol (can be elevated), blood gas, sputum exam, ECG normal, ECHO, a1 antitrypsin level
Management of COPD
•Mx = Reg ass lung function -> smoking cessation -> pneumococcal and annual influenza vacc -> SABA bronchodilator for acute relief, LABA -> add in muscarinic bronchodilator -> consider theophylline or Combo ICS + LABA -> Pulm rehab -> eval+ treatment of hypoxaemia -> lung reduction surgery/ transplany.
Pathology of Ischaemia heart disease
- Atheroma: endothelial dysfunction -> monocyte adhesion/emigration, smooth muscle cell migration to intima, smooth muscle cell migration to intima and proliferation, ECM elaboration, lipid accumulation, inflammation, plaque growth.
- Patho: Coronary arteries become blocked with atheroma.
Symptoms of Ischaemic heart disease
•Symptoms = Chest pain (Angina/HA, central crushing), breathless, tired, dizzy palpitations
RFs of Ischaemic heart disease
- Diabetes – High blood glucose can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels and over time this can lead to heart disease
- Obesity – Fatty material builds up in arteries and this can lead to heart attack.
- High LDL + triglycerides and low HDL linked to heart disease
- HBP (make arteries less elastic, decrease flow blood + o2 to heart and hear disease.
- smoking FH heart disease, inactivity
Invetsigations for Ischaemic heart disease
•Specialist IX= CT with contrast. Coronary angiogram if blockage then angioplasty




















