T3 - Vascular Disease Assessment Flashcards
What is an aortic aneurysm?
An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in a section of the aorta caused by an underlying weakness in the aortic wall.
How are aortic dissections classified according to the DeBakey and Stanford systems?
The DeBakey system classifies aortic dissections into
- Type I (tear in the ascending aorta that propagates to the arch),
- Type II (tear confined to the ascending aorta), and
- Type III (tear in the descending aorta).
The Stanford system classifies them as
- Type A (tear in the ascending aorta) and
- Type B (tear in the descending aorta).
What is the treatment approach for ascending arch dissections?
Ascending arch dissections typically require emergent surgery.
How are descending arch dissections typically treated?
Descending arch dissections are rarely treated with urgent surgery.
What is the initial treatment for uncomplicated type B aortic dissections?
Uncomplicated type B dissections are often admitted for Blood pressure control, with short-acting beta-blockers being preferred, along with arterial line monitoring.
What symptoms indicate an impending rupture of an aortic dissection, and what is the treatment?
Symptoms of impending rupture include posterior pain, hypotension, and hemothorax, which indicate the need for surgical treatment.
What are the risk factors for aortic aneurysms and dissections?
Risk factors include hypertension (HTN), atherosclerosis, age, being male, smoking, and family history.
Which inherited disorders are associated with aortic aneurysms and dissections?
Inherited disorders associated with these conditions include Marfan’s syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, and non-syndrome familial history.
What are some causes of aortic dissection?
Causes of dissection include blunt trauma, cocaine use, and iatrogenic causes (caused by medical treatment).
What iatrogenic causes are related to aortic dissections?
Iatrogenic causes are related to cardiac catheterization, aortic manipulation, cross-clamping, and arterial incision.
Who is more commonly affected by aortic dissections?
Aortic dissection is more common in men and pregnant women in their third trimester.
What are the three main arterial pathologies in vascular disease?
The three main arterial pathologies are aneurysms, dissections, and occlusions.
Which vessels are more likely to be affected by aneurysms and dissections?
The aorta and its branches are more likely to be affected by aneurysms and dissections.
Which arteries are more likely to be affected by occlusions?
Peripheral arteries are more likely to be affected by occlusions.
What is the definition of an aortic aneurysm?
An aortic aneurysm is defined as the dilation of all three layers of an artery, with a greater than 50% increase in diameter
What symptoms might be present with an aortic aneurysm?
Symptoms of an aortic aneurysm may be due to compression of surrounding structures.
How are aortic aneurysms initially treated?
Aortic aneurysms are initially treated medically.
When is surgery indicated for an aortic aneurysm?
Surgery is indicated for an aortic aneurysm when its diameter exceeds 5.5 cm.
What is the mortality rate associated with a ruptured aortic aneurysm?
The mortality rate for a ruptured aortic aneurysm is approximately 75%.
Types of aneurysm image:
What are the two types of aortic aneurysms?
The two types of aortic aneurysms are fusiform and saccular.
What characterizes a fusiform aneurysm?
A fusiform aneurysm is a uniform dilation along the entire circumference of the arterial wall.
What is a saccular aneurysm?
A saccular aneurysm is a berry-shaped bulge to one side of the artery.
What are the symptoms of an aortic aneurysm?
Symptoms can be asymptomatic or include pain due to the compression of surrounding structures.
How are aortic aneurysms diagnosed?
Aortic aneurysms are diagnosed using CT, MRI, chest X-ray (CXR), angiogram, and echocardiogram.
What is the fastest and safest measure for obtaining a diagnosis of suspected aortic dissection?
In suspected aortic dissection, a Doppler echocardiogram is the fastest and safest measure for obtaining a diagnosis.
What is an aortic dissection?
An aortic dissection is a tear in the intimal layer of the artery, allowing blood to enter the medial layer.
What is the protocol for an ascending aortic dissection?
An ascending aortic dissection is catastrophic and requires emergent surgical intervention.
How are ascending aortic dissections classified?
Ascending aortic dissections are classified as Stanford A and DeBakey types 1 and 2.
How does mortality rate change over time with an aortic dissection?
The mortality rate increases by 1-2% per hour.
What is the overall mortality rate for aortic dissection?
The overall mortality rate for aortic dissection is 27-58%.
What are the symptoms of an aortic dissection?
Symptoms include severe, sharp pain in the posterior chest or back.
How is aortic dissection diagnosed in stable and unstable patients?
In stable patients, diagnosis can be made with CT, chest X-ray (CXR), MRI, or angiography. In unstable patients, echocardiography is used.
What are common risk factors for aortic aneurysms and dissections?
Risk factors include hypertension, atherosclerosis, age, male gender, smoking, and family history.
Which inherited disorders are associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysms and dissections?
Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, bicuspid aortic valve, and non-syndrome familial history are inherited disorders that increase the risk.
What are some causes of aortic dissection?
Causes include blunt trauma, cocaine use, and iatrogenic factors resulting from medical treatment.
What iatrogenic factors are related to aortic dissections?
Cardiac catheterization, aortic manipulation, cross-clamping, and arterial incision are iatrogenic factors related to dissections.
Who is more likely to experience an aortic dissection?
Aortic dissection is more common in men and in pregnant women during the third trimester.
What are the four primary causes of mortality related to surgeries of the thoracic aorta?
The four primary causes are myocardial infarction (MI), respiratory failure, renal failure, and stroke.
What should be assessed for in the preoperative evaluation for thoracic aorta surgery?
Assess for the presence of coronary artery disease, valve dysfunction, and heart failure.
What may be required before surgery in patients with ischemic heart disease?
Patients with ischemic heart disease may require cardiac intervention prior to surgery.
What are some cardiac evaluation tests used in the preoperative phase?
Cardiac evaluation tests can include stress testing, echocardiography, and radionuclide imaging.
Why might a patient be precluded from an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) resection?
A severe reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or renal failure may preclude a patient from AAA resection.
What are predictors of post-aortic surgery respiratory failure?
Smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are predictors of respiratory failure after aortic surgery.
What tests can help define respiratory risk in the preoperative phase for thoracic aorta surgery?
PFT’s and ABGs
What preoperative interventions might be considered for patients at risk of respiratory complications?
Consider preoperative bronchodilators, antibiotics, and chest physiotherapy for patients at risk of respiratory complications.
What is the most important indicator of post-aortic surgery renal failure?
Preoperative renal dysfunction is the most important indicator of post-aortic surgery renal failure.
What are key preoperative management steps to mitigate renal failure risk in aortic surgery?
Key steps include ensuring preoperative hydration, avoiding hypovolemia, hypotension, low cardiac output, and nephrotoxic drugs.
What vascular evaluation should be done for a patient with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
For a patient with a history of stroke or TIA, a carotid ultrasound and an angiogram of brachiocephalic and intracranial arteries should be performed.
What should be considered if severe carotid stenosis is identified before elective aortic surgery?
If severe carotid stenosis is identified, consideration should be given to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) before elective surgery.
What are the inherited risk factors for cerebral vascular accidents?
Inherited risk factors include age, prior history of stroke, family history of stroke, black race, male gender, and sickle cell disease.
What are modifiable risk factors for cerebral vascular accidents?
Modifiable risk factors include elevated blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, carotid artery disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity or physical inactivity.
What is a cerebral vascular accident (CVA)?
A CVA, also known as a stroke, can be ischemic (87% of cases) or hemorrhagic (13%) and is characterized by sudden-onset neurological deficits.
How significant a predictor of CVA is carotid disease?
Carotid disease is a prominent predictor of cerebral vascular accidents.
Where does CVA rank in leading causes of disability and death in the U.S.?
CVA is the first leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
A TIA is a subset of ischemic strokes that are self-limited, with symptoms resolving within 24 hours.
What is the risk of subsequent stroke after a TIA?
TIAs carry a risk that is 10 times greater for a subsequent stroke.
What can angiography diagnose in carotid disease?
Angiography can diagnose vascular occlusion.
What can CT and MRI reveal in carotid disease?
CT and MRI are less invasive tests that may also identify aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
How is transcranial Doppler ultrasound useful in carotid disease?
Transcranial Doppler ultrasound may give indirect evidence of vascular occlusions with real-time bedside monitoring.
What can carotid auscultation detect?
Carotid auscultation can identify bruits, which are sounds indicative of turbulent blood flow due to narrowing or blockage.
What information does carotid ultrasound provide?
Carotid ultrasound can quantify the degree of carotid stenosis.
Where does carotid stenosis commonly occur and why?
Carotid stenosis commonly occurs at the internal/external carotid bifurcation due to turbulent blood flow at the branch-point.
What should the workup for carotid disease include?
The workup should include evaluation for sources of emboli such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, valvular vegetation, or paradoxical emboli in the setting of a patent foramen ovale (PFO).
What does the American Heart Association recommend for the treatment of CVA?
The American Heart Association recommends tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) within 4.5 hours.
What interventional radiology techniques are used in the treatment of CVA?
Techniques include intra-arterial thrombolysis and intravascular thrombectomy.
How long after the onset of CVA can intravascular thrombectomy be beneficial?
Benefits of intravascular thrombectomy have been seen up to 8 hours after the onset of CVA.
What is a Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA)?
CEA is a surgical treatment for severe carotid stenosis, typically for blockages of 70-99%.
What is an alternative treatment to Carotid Endarterectomy?
Carotid stenting is an alternative to CEA.
What is a major risk associated with carotid stenting?
The major risk associated with carotid stenting is microembolization leading to CVA.
What devices have been developed to mitigate the risk of microembolization during carotid stenting?
Embolic protection devices have been developed to mitigate the risk; however, the CVA risk remains unchanged so far.
What constitutes ongoing medical therapy after a CVA?
Ongoing medical therapy includes:
- Antiplatelet treatment
- Smoking cessation
- Blood pressure control
- Cholesterol control
- Maintaining a healthy diet and physical activity.
What is a crucial part of the preoperative evaluation for Carotid Endarterectomy?
A neurological evaluation to establish preoperative deficits is crucial, which may include post-CVA weakness, aphasia, etc.
Why is cardiovascular disease assessment important in CEA preparation?
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is prevalent in carotid disease, and myocardial infarction is a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality in CEA.