Vascular Disease Tutorial

Question 1

What is arteriosclerosis?

Answer 1

Arteriosclerosis occurs when arteries become thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues.

Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis

Question 2

Modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis?

Answer 2

Hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia (LDL increases risk; HDL increases risk), smoking and diabetes

Question 3

Non modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis?

Answer 3

Age (number and severity of lesions)

Question 4

How does smoking lead to endothelial injury?

Answer 4

In response to smoke exposure, endothelial cells are known to release inflammatory and proatherogenic cytokines. All these processes lead to endothelial dysfunction.

Question 5

Is cancer a risk factor for DVT? Why?

Answer 5

Yes - ability of tumour cells to activate the coagulation system.

Question 6

Treatment of confirmed DVT?

Answer 6

Therapeutic anti-coagulation (3-6 months)

Question 7

What is thromboprophylaxis?

Answer 7

?

Question 8

Size and location of PE determines outcome.

What is effect of massive embolus in main pulmonary artery?

Answer 8

Sudden death

Question 9

What is effect of small embolus lodged in peripheral pulmonary artery?

Answer 9

Pulmonary infarct

Question 10

What is effect of multiple repeated small emboli?

Answer 10

Pulmonary hypertension

Question 11

Symptoms of PE?

Answer 11

• Pleuritic chest pain, retrosternal chest pain
• Dyspnoea
• Cough and haemoptysis

Question 12

Treatment of PE?

Answer 12

• Symptomatic therapy (analgesia, oxygen)
• Early mobilisation (prevent stasis)
• DOAC (Apixaban)
• Anticoagulant therapy reduces incidence of venous thrombosis and subsequent embolism

Question 13

What does left anterior descending artery obstruction cause?

Answer 13

Anterior infarction