Vascular Flashcards
Chronic Limb Ischaemia
5% males >50 have intermittent claudication
Definition - ankle artery pressure <50 (toe <30mmHg)
- and either persistent rest requiring analgesia for 2+ weeks
- or ulceration gangrene
Chronic Limb Ischaemia Cause
Atherosclerosis - typical ASx until 50% stenosis
Vasculitis + fibromuscular dysplasia > v rare causes
Atherosclerosis
- Endothelial injury: haemodynamic, HTN, ↑ lipids
- Chronic inflammation
Lipid-laden foam cells produce GFs, cytokines,
ROS and MMPs
→ lymphocyte and SMC recruitment - SM proliferation: conversion of fatty streak to
atherosclerotic plaque
NB. Arteriosclerosis = general arterial hardening
Atherosclerosis = arterial hardening specifically due to
atheroma
Atheroma
Fibrous cap: SM cells, lymphocytes, collagen
Necrotic centre: cell debris, cholesterol, Ca, foam cells
Chronic Limb Ischaemia RF + ass vasc disease
Modifiable Smoking BP DM control Hyperlipidaemia ↓ exercise
Non-Modifiable FH and PMH Male ↑ age Genetic
Ass Vasc Disease IHD: 90% Carotid stenosis:15% AAA Renovascular disease DM microvascular disease
Chronic Limb Ischaemia Presentation
Intermittent Claudication
Cramping pain after walking a fixed distance
Pain rapidly relieved by rest
Calf pain = superficial femoral disease (commonest)
Buttock pain = iliac disease (internal or common)
Chronic limb ischaemia presentation
Critical Limb Ischaemia
Critical Limb Ischaemia - Fontaine 3 or 4
Rest pain Especially @ night Usually felt in the foot Pt. hangs foot out of bed Due to ↓ CO and loss of gravity help
Ulceration
Gangrene
Chronic Limb Ischaemia
Presentation
Leriche’s Syndrome - Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
Atherosclerotic occlusion of abdominal aorta and iliacs
Triad
Buttock claudication and wasting
Erectile dysfunction
Absent femoral pulses
Chronic Limb Ischaemia
Presentation
Buerger’s Disease
Thromboangiitis Obligerans
Young, male, heavy smoker
Acute inflammation and thrombosis of arteries and
veins in the hands and feet → ulceration and gangrene
Chronic Limb Ischaemia Signs
Pulses: pulses and ↑ CRT (norm ≤2sec) Ulcers: painful, punched-out, on pressure points Nail dystrophy / Onycholysis Skin: cold, white, atrophy, absent hair Venous guttering Muscle atrophy
↓ Buerger’s Angle
≥90: normal
20-30: ischaemia
<20: severe ischaemia
+ve Buerger’s Sign
Reactive hyperaemia due to accumulation of
deoxygenated blood in dilated capillaries
Clinical Classification of Chronic limb ischaemia
Fontaine
- Asympto (subclinical)
- Intermittent claudication
a. >200m
b. <200m - Ischaemic rest pain
- Ulceration / gangrene
Rutherford
- Mild claudication
- Moderate claudication
- Severe claudication
- Ischaemic rest pain
- Minor tissue loss
- Major tissue loss
Chronic Limb Ischaemia Ix
Doppler Waveforms
Normal: triphasic
Mild stenosis: biphasic
Severe stenosis: monophasic
ABPI (another card)
Walk test
- walk on treadmill at certain speed + incline to establish maximum claudication distance
- ABPI measured before and after 20% drop is sign
Bloods FBC + U+E: anaemia, renovascular disease Lipids + glucose ESR: arteritis G+S: possible procedure
Imaging: assess site, extent and distal run-off
- Colour duplex US
- CT / MR angiogram: gadolinium contrast
- Digital subtraction angiography
Invasive :. not commonly used for Dx only.
Used when performing therapeutic angioplasty
or stenting
Other
ECG: ischaemia
ABPI in CLIschaemia
Clinical Fontaine ABPI
Calcification: CRF, DM >1.4
Normal ≥1
Asymptomatic Fontaine 1 0.8-0.9
Claudication Fontaine 2 0.6-0.8
Rest pain Fontaine 3 0.3-0.6
Ulceration and gangrene Fontaine 4 <0.3
NB. Falsely high results may be obtained in DM / CRF due
to calcification of vessels: mediasclerosis
Use toe pressure with small cuff: <30mmHg
Chronic limb ischaemia conservative Mx
Most pt can be managed like this ^exercise (exercise program) Stop amoking Wt loss Foot Care
Prog: 1/3 improve, 1/3 stay the same, 1/3 deteriorate
Chronic Limb Ischaemia Medical Mx
Risk factors: BP, lipids, DM
β-B don’t worsen intermittent claudication but use w caution in CLI
Antiplatelets: aspirin / clopidogrel
Analgesia: may need opiates
(Parenteral prostanoids ↓ pain in pts. unfit for surgery)
Endovascular Mx of Chronic Limb Ischaemia
Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty ± stenting
Good for short stenosis in big vessels: e.g. iliacs, SFA
Lower risk for pt.: performed under LA as day case
Improved inflow → ↓ pain but restoration of foot pulses is required for Rx of ulceration / gangrene.
Surgical Reconstruction of Chronic Limb Ischaemia
Indication
Pre-op
Practicalities
Indicated > V short claudication distance (<100m)
- Sx greatly affecting pt QUAL
- Development of rest pain
Pre-op - need good optimisation of cardioresp co-morbidities
Practicalities - need good proximal supply + distal run-off
> saphenous vein grafts preferred below IL
> more distal grafts have ^ rates of thrombosis
Surgical Reconstruction of Chronic Limb Ischaemia
Classification
+ altenratives
Classification
- anatomical - fem-pop, fem-distal, aortobifemoral
- extra-anatomical - axillofem/-bifem, fem-fem crossover
Other
- endarterectomy - core out atheromatous plaque
- sympathectomy - cheimcal EtOH injeuction) or surgical
> caution in DM w neuroapthy
- amputation
Chronic limb ischaemia Prognosis
1yr after onset of CLI
50% alive w/o amputation
25% will have had major amputation
25% dead (usually MI or stroke)
Following amputation Perioperative mortality BK: 5-10% AK: 15-20% 1/3 → complete autonomy 1/3 → partial autonomy 1/3 → dead
Acute Limb Ischaemia
Acute <14d
Acute on chronic - worsening Sx + signs <14d
Chronic - ischaemia stable >14d
Severity
Incomplete - limb not threatened
Complete - limb thretened (loss of limb unless intervention w/i 6 hours
Irreversible - requires amputation
Causes of Acute Limb Ischaemia
Thrombosis in situ (60%)
A previously stenosed vessel w plaque rupture
Usually incomplete ischaemia
Embolism (30%) 80% from LA in AF Valve disease Iatrogenic from angioplasty / surgery Cholesterol in long bone # Paradoxical (venous via PFO) Typically lodge at femoral bifurcation Often complete ischaemia
Graft / stent occlusion
Trauma
Aortic dissection
Acute Limb Ischaemia Presentation
Painful Perishingly cold Pulseless Pale Paralysis Paraesthesia
Thrombosis (Acute limb ischaemia)
Onset - hrs/days
Severity - less severe - collaterals
Claudication - present
Contralateral pulses - absent
Dx - angiography
Rx - thrombolysis, bypass surgery
Embolus (acute limb ischaemia)
Onset - sudden Severity - Profound ischaemia Embolic source - AF oft Claudiction - Absent Contralateral pulse - present
Dx - clinical
Rx - embolectomy + warfarin
Acute Limb Ischaemia Ix
Blood
FBC, U+E, INR, G+S
CK
ECG
Imaging
CXR
Duplex doppler
Acute Limb Ischaemia
General Mx
Discuss w senior as time is crucial.
NBM
Rehydration: IV fluids
Analgesia: morphine + metoclopramide
Abx: e.g augmentin if signs of infection
Unfractionated heparin IVI: prevent extension
Complete occlusion?
Yes: urgent surgery: embolectomy or bypass
No: angiogram + observe for deterioration
Angiography Not if complete occlusion - introduces delay: straight to theatre. If incomplete occlusion, pre-op angio will guide any distal bypass.
Acute Limb Ischaemia Embolus Mx
Embolectomy
Under LA or GA
Wire fed through embolus
Fogarty catheter fed over the top
Balloon inflated and catheter withdrawn, removing the embolism.
Send embolism for histo (exclude atrial myxoma)
Adequacy confirmed by on-table angiography
- Thrombolysis
Consider if embolectomy unsuccessful
E.g. local injection of TPA - Other options
Emergency reconstruction
Amputation
Post-embolectomy
Anticoagulate: heparin IVI → warfarin
ID embolic source: ECG, echo, US aorta, fem and pop
Complications >Reperfusion injury Local swelling → compartment syndrome Acidosis and arrhythmia 2ndary to ↑K ARDS GI oedema → endotoxic shock >Chronic pain syndromes
Acute Limb Ischaeima
Thrombosis M
Emergency reconstruction if complete occlusion
Angiography + angioplasty
Thrombolysis
Amputation
Carotid Artery Disease
Define Stroke
Define TIA
Stroke: sudden neurological deficit of vascular origin
lasting >24h
TIA: sudden neurological deficit of vascular origin
lasting <24h (usually lasts <1h) w complete recovery
Carotid Artery Disease
Pathogenesis
Presentation
Ix
Pathogenesis
Turbulent flow → ↓ shear stress @ carotid bifurcation
promoting atherosclerosis and plaque formation.
Plaque rupture → complete occlusion or distal emboli
Cause 15-25% of CVA/TIA
Presentation
Bruit
CVA/TIA
Ix
Duplex carotid Doppler
MRA