Stroke, atherosclerosis, oedema, arrhythmias and valve disease Flashcards
Define red and white thrombi (origin and composition)
- Red thrombus: contains mostly RBCs and fibrin. Venous origin, caused by stasis or hypercoagulability
- White thrombus: contains lipids/platelets and fibrin. Arterial origin, broken off atheroma plaque
What are the three components of Virchow’s triad?
- Change in blood flow (ie stasis)
- change in blood components (ie hypercoagulability)
- change in blood vessel (ie endothelial damage)
What investigations should be done to diagnose pulmonary embolism?
- If Wells probability score low - do a blood test for D-Dimer
- If Wells probability score high - do CT Pulmonary Angiogram
If D-Dimer positive - do CT Pulmonary Angiogram
What are the two main types of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Define embolism
Material in the circulation which dislodges from original place and moves to another area of the body. Can be a blood clot but also air, lipids etc
What are two causes for stasis (blood pooling, change in blood flow in Virchow’s triangle)?
Long flights, immobility/bedbound status
What can cause hypercoagulability?
Inherited or acquired (Pregnancy, surgery, cancer)
What can cause endothelial damage?
Endothelial dysfunction (caused by smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia) Endothelial injury (IV catheters, trauma, surgery)
What are common signs of DVT?
Unilateral swelling, discomfort, redness, may be silent
Define claudication
Pain in leg(s) due to ischaemia caused by occluded artery supplying the leg.
What is a common complication of DVT and what are its implications?
Post-thrombotic syndrome, can affect up to half the patients who have had DVT in previous months.
Causes chronic pain, swelling, redness, ulcers and damage to valves in the veins
How is DVT diagnosed?
- Clinical assessment and Wells score
- Wells test result low –> blood test for D-Dimer
- Wells test high/D-Dimer positive –> compression ultrasound or doppler ultrasound
What is the Wells probability test?
It’s a measure to calculate the risk of thrombosis based on risk factors
What is a D-Dimer?
It’s a byproduct of the breakdown of cross-linked fibrin following fibrinolysis
What are the diagnostic advantages and disadvantages of D-Dimer blood testing?
It’s very sensitive to D-Dimer presence in the blood, so useful to rule out thrombosis.
It’s not very specific, there are other causes for raised D-Dimer levels so a positive result may not be due to thrombosis
What are the four main types of valve disease?
Mitral stenosis,
Mitral regurgitation,
Aortic stenosis
Aortic regurgitation
Which heart valves are more likely to have congenital abnormalities?
Right heart valves - tricuspid and pulmonary
What are the main causes of mitral stenosis?
Rheumatic heart disease Systemic diseases (SLE, RA) Congenital defect
What are the main symptoms of mitral stenosis?
Shortness of breath (exertion) Shortness of breath (pulmonary oedema) Haemoptysis Hoarse voice (compressed recurrent laryngeal nerve) Infective Endocarditis
What are the main signs of mitral stenosis?
Mitral facies RV hypertrophy Pulmonary oedema Pulmonary hypertension Raised JVP (a wave) Tapping apex beat Diastolic thrill
Which valve diseases have a long asymptomatic phase?
Aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation
What investigations can be done to diagnose mitral stenosis?
Cardiac catheter CXR ECG Echocardiogram Cardiac magnetic resonance
What are the steps in diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism?
Wells score low - D-Dimer
D-Dimer positive - CT Pulmonary Angiogram, V/Q scan
Wells score high - CT Pulmonary Angiogram, V/Q scan
What are the common signs and symptoms of PE?
Pleuritic chest pain, SOB, tachycardia, haemoptysis, pleural rub
If PE severe: severe SOB, central cyanosis, low BP, raised JVP, sudden death
What are the main treatment options for Vascular Thromboembolism (VTE)?
Anticoagulants (fractionated or LMW heparin; warfarin, DOACs)
Thrombolysis (eg alteplase, in severe cases)
What measures can be taken to prevent VTE occurring?
Early mobilisation, stockings, mechanical or pharmaceutical thromboprophylaxis
What are the main aims of VTE treatment?
Prevent recurrence, prevent clot extension and further embolisation
What is a possible long term complication of PE?
Pulmonary hypertension
How can PE lead to pulmonary infarction, and how likely is it?
Infarction rare due to collateral circulation in lungs.
It occurs through leaking fluid into alveoli due to increased pressure in bronchial circulation
What are three important considerations when VTE has been diagnosed?
- Clear cause of VTE (eg recent surgery, long flight)
- Signs or symptoms indicating underlying malignancy
- Chance of recurrence
What are the common causes of abdominal aortic aneurysms?
- Atherosclerosic disease
- Connective tissue diseases (eg Marfan’s Syndrome)
- Infection
What are common risk factors for aneurysms?
Same ones as for atheromatous plaques:
Hypertension, age, smoking, diabetes, family history, high cholesterol, males
When should surgical repair of aneurysm be considered?
If aneurysm is enlarged to >5.5cm
What are the most common presentations of aneurysm?
Nothing, it’s normally picked up incidentally (especially through ultrasounds for gallstones). May present as back pain
What is the purpose of screening for aneurysms?
It helps to identify aneurysms before they rupture and monitor ones which are not large enough to call for repair
If an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 3-4.5cm is found, what is the course of action?
Patient should be discharged an be invited back for yearly ultrasound scans to monitor the aneurysm
If an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 4.5-5.5cm is found, what is the course of action?
Patient should be discharged and be invited back every 3 months for a surveillance ultrasound scan
What are common presentations of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Shock
back/side/abdominal pain
haematodynamic instability
hypoperfusion
What are some less common presentations of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Distal embolisation (toes, kidneys, colon) compression of duodenum compression of ureter aortocaval fistula aortoenteric fistula
What are the surgical repair options for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Open repair or endovascular repair (EVAR)
What imaging techniques are used for assessing abdominal aortic aneurysm size, and what are their pros and cons?
Ultrasound:
Pros: cheap, accessible, tolerated by patient
Cons: operator dependent, no anatomic detail
CTA/MRA scan:
Pros: very quick (30s), not operator dependent, very clear anatomic image
Cons: radiation and contrast
What factors should be considered when assessing surgical repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Patient fitness (lung, heart, kidney function)
Patient wishes
Aneurysm size
Anatomy (determines which type of surgery is suitable)
What are three main treatment options for abdominal aortic aneurysms?
Conservative treatment
Endovascular repair (EVAR)
Open repair
List some of the complications of open repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms
Pain/scarring/bleeding/dehiscence/wound infection
Damage to structures adjacent to aorta (nerves, bowel, veins, ureter)
distal embolisations and ischaemia, graft infection
colon ischaemia (redundant inferior mesenteric artery), kidney damage,
CVA/MI/PE
List some of the complications of EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysms
Pain/scar/bleeding/wound infection Endoleak Damage to endothelium (femoral dissection, pseudoaneurysm) distal embolisations, graft infection, CVA/MI/PE
What is an endoleak?
It’s blood leakage in the area of the aneurysm that has been grafted
What investigation should be done to assess whether an aneurysm rupture should be repaired with open repair or EVAR?
CT scan to assess anatomic suitability for EVAR
When is an endarterectomy performed?
When a patient has/has had TIA/stroke symptoms and the relevant carotid artery is >70% but <99% occluded
What course of action should be taken if one carotid artery is completely occluded?
Best medical care (BMC), operation will not benefit patient since other arteries are still supplying Circle of Willis
What investigations should be done when a patient presents with a stroke?
CT scan - rule out a haemorrhagic stroke
Doppler ultrasound - to assess degree of carotid stenosis
What is the main management aim of TIA/stroke, and what are the common management steps?
Management to reduce risk factors:
- smoking cessation
- antiplatelet (2x for first 3 months)
- statin
- blood pressure medication
- diabetic control
What investigations should be carried out to diagnose stroke/TIA?
History examination bloods (FBC, lipids) ECG (24hr) CT/MRI carotid ultrasound scans
What are the possible complications of an endarterectomy?
Bleeding, scarring, pain, infection
anaesthetic complications
damage to recurrent laryngeal nerve
perioperative stroke (thrombosis, hypoperfusion)
What factors can influence the management decision for stroke? (ie endarterectomy or best medical treatment)?
Patient wishes Anatomic suitability Degree of carotid stenosis Time since stroke/TIA Females
When is the most beneficial time to carry out endarterectomy to reduce further events?
First 2 weeks post event (faster is better in women)
When would carotid stenting be considered in the prevention of stroke?
If patient is not anatomically suitable for endarterectomy (eg scarring or occlusion is further up the internal carotid artery)
What treatment will be offered to a symptomatic patient with 60% carotid stenosis, and to one with 75% carotid stenosis?
60% - best medical treatment only
75% - best medical treatment + endarterectomy (or stenting if anatomically unsuitable for endarterectomy)
What are the four main types of ischaemic stroke?
Total Anterior Circulation Stroke (TACS)
Partial Anterior Circulation Stroke (PACS)
Lacunar Stroke (LACS)
Posterior Circulation Stroke (POCS)
What is POCS most likely to present with?
visual disturbance (Homonymous hemianopia) breathing problems tinnitus Horner's syndrome loss of function/sensation coma dizzyness balance problems
What is TACS most likely to present with?
Symptoms include face/arm/leg weakness and loss of sensation, speech disturbance, loss of vision
What is PACS most likely to present with?
Combination of 2/3 of the symptoms seen in TACS. Restricted hemiparesis/loss of sensation only, or speech/motor function disturbance only
What is LACS most likely to present with?
Depends on the location.
Sensory only/motor only/sensorymotor/ataxic hemiparesis