Vascular Flashcards
Vascular dx
What is the definition of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A localised enlargement of the abdominal aorta where the diameter is >3 cm or >50% larger than normal diameter.
What are the 3 types of aneurysms?
True (tear in all 3 layers of artery wall):
1. Saccular
2. Fusiform
- False aneurysms- tear in the tunica intimacy creating a false lumen
What are the risk factors for AAA?
Smoking
Male
Connective tissue disorders- Marfan’s, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Old age
HTN
Inflammatory disorders
What are the presenting symptoms of un-ruptured AAAs?
Majority are asymptomatic- incidental finding
May complain of pain/pulsation in the back/abdo/groin
What are the risk factors for AAAs?
Male
CTD
Hypertension
Hypercholesterolaemia
Smoking
What is the mortality rate of ruptured AAAs?
90%
What is the presentation of a ruptured AAA?
Sudden, severe abdominal pain, radiating to the back
Syncope
Shock signs
What are the signs of an AAA? (ruptured or not)
- Pulsatile & laterally expansile mass on palpation
- Abdominal bruit
IF RUPTURED:
- Grey Turner’s/Cullen’s- retroperitoneal bleeding
- Low BP/high HR - hypovolaemic shock
What is the screening criteria for AAAs?
Males >65yrs
What are the investigations for suspected AAA?
BEDSIDE
- Abdominal Ultrasound- GOLD STANDARD
- Can detect presence of AAA but not whether it has ruptured or not
BLOODS
- FBC, clotting screen, U&Es, LFTs
- Cross match in case surgery is needed
IMAGING (detect rupture)
- CT Angiogram
- Magnetic resonance angiogram – contrast allergy/renal impairment
What is the management plan for small AAAs (3.5-4.4cm) and medium AAAs (4.5-5.4cm)?
Follow up scan in 1 year (small) or 3 months (medium)
CONSERVATIVE: smoking, exercise, weight loss
MEDICAL:
- statins
- aspirin
- BP management
What is the management plan for large AAAs (5.5cm+)?
Open aortic surgery
Endovascular repair
What are the cons of open aortic surgery?
Longer recovery time hence done on young patients
What are the cons of endovascular repair?
Less peri-op mortality but greater risk of needing more procedures
What is the definition of an aortic dissection?
A tear in the tunica intima causing blood accumulation between the inner and outer tunica media (false lumen)
What are the 2 classification systems for aortic dissections?
DEBAKEV
Type I –> Type IIIb
STANFORD
Type A- ascending aorta tear
Type B- descending aorta tear (after the left subclavian)
What are the risk factors of an aortic dissection?
HTN
Atherosclerosis
Iatrogenic (angiography/plasty)
Congenital- coarctation of aorta
Crack cocaine
Smoking
Male
Connective tissue disorders
What are the presenting symptoms of aortic dissections?
Sudden central tearing pain, radiating to the back
Symptoms caused by blockages to branches of the aorta
What can happen if the tear affects the carotids/subclavian?
Hemiparesis
Blackouts
What can happen if the tear affects the coronary arteries?
Angina
MI
What can happen if the tear affects the renal arteries?
AKI
Renal failure
What can happen if the tear affects the coeliac trunk?
Abdominal pain
What can you find on examination of a Pt with aortic dissection?
- Tachycardia
- BP difference of >20mmHg (50%) between upper limbs
- Murmur below scapulae
SIGNS OF CAUSE
- Radio-radial delay (if coarctation of aorta)
- Wide pulse pressure
- Hypertension
- Signs of aortic regurgitation (collapsing pulse)
- Signs of connective tissue disease
What are the two key signs of aortic insufficiency?
High volume collapsing pulse
Early diastolic murmur (aortic regurgitation)
What investigations would you do for aortic dissection and why?
BLOODS
- FBC, U&E/LFT- check for downstream organ damage.
- Xmatch- 10 units of blood for hypotension
- Cardiac enzymes- mimics MI
ECG
CXR
GOLD STANDARD- CT angiogram
What would you see in a CXR of a Pt with aortic dissection?
Widened mediastinum
Loss of contour of aortic knuckle/visible aortic notch
Globular heart
Why would you do a CT angiography of a Pt with aortic dissection?
Visualise the location of the dissection
Which is the best diagnostic intervention for aortic dissection?
CT angiogram- needs to be ordered as soon as aortic dissection is suspected
A 69 year old man with a background of hypertension complained of flank pain all day at work. He then has sudden onset abdominal pain that radiates to his back and groin. He arrives in an ambulance unconscious. The doctor notes Grey Turner’s and Cullen’s signs. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Renal colic
B. Myocardial ischaemia
C. Ruptured AAA
D. Pancreatitis
C. Ruptured AAA
A 65 year old gentleman is coming in for screening for a AAA following a letter received in the post. What modality would be used as a screening tool?
A. Abdominal ultrasound
B. Abdominal CT
C. Abdominal X-ray
D. Doppler ultrasound
A. Abdominal Ultrasound
A 65 year old gentleman with a known AAA (last measured 5.2 cm) comes in complaining of severe abdominal pain. What investigation would you use to assess if it has ruptured?
A. Abdominal ultrasound
B. Abdominal CT
C. Abdominal X-ray
D. Doppler ultrasound
B. Abdominal CT
A 70 year old gentleman with known hypertension presents to A&E with tearing chest pain, radiating to the back. His CXR shows a widened mediastinum. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Aortic dissection
B. STEMI
C. Tietze’s syndrome
D. Costochondritis
A. Aortic dissection
Which of the following examination findings is not consistent with an aortic dissection?
A. BP 100/40
B. Ejection systolic murmur
C. Collapsing pulse
D. Radio-radio delay
B. Ejection systolic murmur
What is intermittent claudication?
Cramping muscular pain in the calf, thigh, or buttocks, PRECIPITATED BY EXERCISE and alleviated by rest
What are the risk factors for peripheral vascular disease?
Cardiovascular RFs:
- Smoking
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Male
- >40yrs
- Hyperlipidaemia
What are the signs of acute limb ischaemia? (6Ps)
- Pain
- Pale
- Pulseless
- Parasthesia
- Perishingly cold
- Paralysis
Both legs are often affected at the same time, although the pain may be worse in 1 leg.
What is Leriche’s syndrome?
Narrowing of the abdominal aorta as it bifurcates into the common iliacs
What is the triad seen in Leriche’s syndrome?
Bilateral claudication
Erectile dysfunction
Weak femoral pulses
What is the triad of critical limb ischaemia?
Rest pain (Alleviated by standing)
Arterial ulcers
Gangrene
What is the prognosis for intermittent claudication?
80% chance of improvement
5% intervention
1% amputation
15% dead in 5 years
What is the prognosis for critical limb ischaemia?
90% intervention
25% amputation
50% dead in 5 years
What are the different indices (levels) of ABPI?
> 0.95- normal
0.5-0.95-claudication
0.3-0.5- rest pain
<0.3- critical ischaemia
What can cause false negatives in ABPIs?
Calcification of vessels
What other investigations can be done for claudication?
Doppler USS
Magnetic resonance angiography
What is acute limb ischaemia?
Sudden lack of blood flow to a limb