Vascular Flashcards
what is aortic dissection
tear in the tunica intima of the aorta
RF for aortic dissection
HTN, recent heart surgery, bicuspid aortic valve, Connective tissue disorders (marfan’s, ED), pregnancy, syphilis, cocaine use
How do you classify Aortic Dissection
Stanford Type A: ascending aorta (2/3 of cases)
Stanford type B: descending aorta (1/3)
How do you manage stanford TA
aortic root replacement surgey
how do you manage stanford TB
Bed rest and beta blockers
classical sx of aortic dissection
Tearing central chest pain
radiates to back
What is BP like in aortic diss
May be high or low
>20mg difference BP between arms
what murmur could you hear with aortic diss
AR
How do you investigate definitively Aortic diss
Stable: CT Angio
Unstable (cannot be taken to CT): TOE/TTE
What preliminary ix are necessary if suspecting aortic diss
ECG (ischaemia)
CXR (widened mediastinum)
FBC (haemoglobin)
X match, group and save
What are the three presentations of Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Intermittent claudication (Chronic Limb Ischaemia)
- Critical Limb Ischaemia
- Acute life-threatening Ischaemia
What is intermittent claudication
Decreased arterial supply to the limbs usually due to atherosclerosis
leading to increased oxygen demand upon exercise that cannot be met by the local vasculature
What are RF of intermittent claudication / PAD
MODIFIABLE:
smoking
dyslipidaemia
hyperglycaemia
HTN
NON-MOD:
- male gender
- increased age
- PMH / FH
- genetic RF
How does chronic limb ischaemia progress(fontaine classification)
- asymptomatic
- intermittent claudication
- ischaemic pain at rest
- ulceration / gangren
how does intermittent claudication present
CRAMPING pain in calves or buttocks after walking a determined distance
resolves with rest
this is reproducible
no pain if at rest
due to increased oxygen demand that cannot be met during exercise by the local vasculature
If intermittent claudication causes pain in the calves / buttock, which arteries are affected?
calves = SFA
buttock: = common / internal iliac
What are clincal findings for intermittend claudication?
PULSE pattern will tell you where blocklage is
No ulcers
Buerger’s negative
ABPI >0.5
How do you investigate intermittent claudication?
Exercise treadmill ABPI
Duplex
Angiography (CT / MR / digital subtraction)
how do you manage intermittent claudication
- Conservative: LIFESTYLE CHANGES
- stop smoking
- improve diet
- improve exercise, try to walk through the pain (as this will increase collateral circulation) - Medical: RF control
- stop smoking
- treat HTN
- antiplatelet (clopi)
- statin
What is leriche’s syndrome
peripheral artery disease affecting the AORTIC BIFURCATIOJn
opresents as buttock / thigh pain + erectile dysfunction
with weak or absent femoral pulses
What is critical limb ischaemia
significant arterial stenoosis causing severe impairment of blood flow to limbs, presenting with at least one of the following:
- ABPI <0.5 or ankle artery pressure >40
- Ischaemic pain >2 weeks
- Rest pain or tissue loss (ischaemic lesion / gangrene / ulceration)
ARTERIES are not able to meet BASELINE DEMAND
How do you manage critical limb ischaemia
Same as intemrittent claudication (modify RF)
- Endovascular repair (angioplasty or stenting)
- surgical tecnique (bypass or embolectomy)
What is acute limb ischaemiA
SUDDEN drop in blood supply to the limb
it threatens limb viability (if not managed within 6 hours, limb will be lost)
what causes acute limb ischaemia?
ACUTE CAUSE - either thrombosis or embolus
what are the 6 Ps of acute limb ischaemia
Pain
pallor
perishingly cold
pulseless
paralysis
parasthesia
what is the management of acute limb ischemia
NBM, IV hydration, analgesia
Unfractionated heparin to prevent clot extension
If embolic cause: embolectomy
If thrombotic cause: angioplasty with stent, thrombolysis, bypass, ampitation
when is thrombolysis viable in acute limb ischaemia?
With ACUTE ON CHRONIC limb ischaemia (i.e. the limb still has some viable collaterals. so it is not as severe)
what is Buerger’s disease
recurrent inflammation and thrombosis of arteries and veins in lower limbs, with uncertain aetiology
what is the biggest RF for buerger’s disease
SMOKING q