Vascular Flashcards
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
The same gentleman, 3 years later 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 Teitze’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 are the risk factors of an AAA
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Male (although F have an increased rupture risk)
- Connective tissue disorders such as Marfans, Ethlers-Danlos
What are the features of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
- severe abdominal pain, radiating to the back/groin
- Bleeding can result in hypovolaemic shock (low BP/ high HR) which can result in collapse
- Retroperitoneal bleeding may result in Grey Turner’s or Cullen’s sign
The severe abdominal pain, radiating to the back/groin is often confused with what other pathology
renal colic
What is the AAA screening programme
It invites male >65 yrs for an ultrasound
What is a: small medium large aneurysm
small: 3-4.4 cm
medium (4.5-5.4 cm)
Large (>5.5cm)
After the initial ultrasound, a patient is found to have a small (3-4.4cm) abdominal aneurysm, what happens next
Follow up scan in 1 year
Also consider conservative management: smoking, exercise, weight loss
AND
medical management: statins, aspirin, BP management
After the initial ultrasound, a patient is found to have a small (3-4.4cm) abdominal aneurysm, what happens next
Follow up scan in 1 year
If a patient had a small or medium abdominal aortic aneurysm, other than follow up ultrasounds, what else can be done
Also consider conservative management: smoking, exercise, weight loss
AND
medical management: statins, aspirin, BP management
After the initial ultrasound, a patient is found to have a medium (4.5-5.4cm) abdominal aneurysm, what happens next
follow up scan in 3 months
After the initial ultrasound, a patient is found to have a large (>5.5cm) abdominal aneurysm, what happens next
Surgical management: 1. open aortic surgery young patients, longer recovery time 2. endovascular repair less peri-operative mortality but higher chance of further procedures
What AAA qualify for surgery
- large (>5.5cm) aneurysms
2. aneurysms growing >1cm per year
If there is a suspected AAA rupture/leak what is the best investigation to do
Abdominal CT
Define aortic dissection
A tear in the tunica intima resulting in blood accumulation between the inner and outer tunica media (creating a false lumen)
How are aortic dissections classified
Stanford classification
Type A: tear in the ascending aorta
Type B: tear in the descending aorta (after the left subclavian branch)
What are the risk factors for aortic dissection
- Hypertension
- Atherosclerosis
- Connective tissue disorders such as Marfan’s, Ethler’s Danlos
What are the risk factors for aortic dissection
- Hypertension
- Atherosclerosis
- Connective tissue disorders such as Marfan’s, Ethler’s Danlos
- iatrogenic: angiography/angioplasty
- Congenital: coarctation of aorta (narrowing)
- Cocaine
What are the clinical features of aortic dissection
Chest pain S: central O: sudden C: tearing R: to the back A: depends on the position of the tear - carotid: blackouts, hemiparesis - coronary: MI, angina - renal: AKI - coeliac trunk
What features would you find on examination of a patient with aortic dissection
- tachycardia
- BP >20 mmHG discrepancy between arms
- radio-radial delay
- wide pulse pressure
- murmur on back below scapulae
What are the signs of aortic insufficiency
- collapsing pulse
2. EDM (early diastolic mummer)
What are the investigations for an aortic dissection
- ECG
ST depression (ischaemia) in acute dissection - CXR
widened mediastinum + visible aortic notch - cardiac enzymes (trops)
usually negative - CT angiography
visualisation of dissection and intimal flap
What are the investigations for an aortic dissection
- ECG
ST depression (ischaemia) in acute dissection - CXR
widened mediastinum + visible aortic notch - cardiac enzymes (trops)
usually negative - CT angiography
visualisation of dissection and intimal flap
if CT is unavailable in acute setting, transoesophageal echo is very sensitive
Define peripheral arterial disease
Narrowing of arteries other than those supplying the brain/heart. Most commonly seen in the legs