Unit 4 Case 3 Flashcards
What is Unit 4 Case 3 about?
Mario Moretti, 70 years of age, suffered a head wound and complained of a sore chest. A chest-x-ray was ordered and the inferior mediastinum looked enlarged. A CT scan was done revealing enlargement of the descending aorta. He was given a beta-adrenergic antagonist to manage his thoracic aortic aneurysm. A few weeks later the aneurysm had ruptured. Successful emergency surgery was done and he was discharged.
What is an aneurysm?
An aneurysm a dilation of an artery or blood vessel caused by weakness in the vessel wall
What are the different types of aneurysm?
There are 3 types of aneurysm
- Saccular
- Fusiform
- Pseudoaneurysm
What is a saccular (berry) aneurysm?
A type of true aneurysm, where the dilation of the blood vessel is asymmetrical and is only one side.
-because there is higher pressure on one side of the artery or it is weaker
Why are aneurysm’s more common in arteries?
As the blood pressure in arteries is greater than in veins
When is the dilation of a blood vessel deemed an aneurysm?
When the diameter of the blood vessel enlarges to become at least 1.5 times larger than the original diameter
What are the main 2 classifications of aneurysms?
True aneurysm- where all the layers of the blood vessel dilate
False (Pseudoaneurysm)- where there is a hole in the blood vessel causing blood to leak out, which becomes encased with connective tissue, causing a bulge.
What are fusiform aneurysms?
A type of true aneurysm, where the dilation of the blood vessel is symmetrical
-due to the weakness of high pressure in the vessel
What is a pseudoaneurysm?
A type of false aneurysm, where there is a hole in the blood vessel causing blood to leak out and become encased by connective tissue, causing a bulge
Where do aneurysms most often take place?
around 60% abdominal aorta
around 40% thoracic aorta
Why do most abdominal aneurysms take place below the renal arteries?
Less elastin so vessels are weaker
How is an aneurysm caused?
Walls of a blood vessel weaken, meaning it cannot control the blood pressure
How can Laplace’s law explain an aneurysm?
Increased blood pressure causes an increase in diameter. This increases the tension
-causing a positive feedback loop that leads to the continued growth of the aneurysm
Can your chances of an aneurysm be affected by genetics?
There are some genetic disorders (Marfan’s syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) that weaken the walls of the blood vessels, therefore increase chances of an aneurysm
What is an intact aneurysm?
When the aneurysm hasn’t ruptured. Normally doesn’t have symptoms unless pressing on other organs or vessels e.g on the aortic valve preventing it from closing