Vascular Diseases Flashcards
What is Morbidity Rate?
The frequency with which a disease appears in a population.
What is Mortality Rate?
Death rate to a specific cause.
What is Mural?
Relates to the wall of any cavity.
What are emboli/embolus?
A blockage causing material that moves within a vessel (can be clot/fat/air).
What are thrombi/thrombus?
A blood clot inside a vessel.
What is a true aneurysm?
A true aneurysm is a bulging in a vessel that involves all three layers of the vessel being weakened and dilated.
What is a false aneurysm?
A pseudoaneurysm is when a tear in the vessel wall allows blood to pool between the layers.
What is a stenosis?
The abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel.
How does the flow pattern of the aorta change?
Proximal (above renals) = Moderate/Low waveform
Distal (below renals) = High resistance waveform
What is the flow pattern of the renal arteries?
Low resistance
How does the flow pattern of the SMA change?
Pre-pandial = high res
Post-prandial = low res
What does hepatofugal mean?
Away from the liver
What does hepatopedal mean?
Towards the liver
What is normal portal venous flow?
- Hepatopedal
- Monophasic with slight undulations
What is the normal flow of the hepatic veins and IVC?
- Phasic
- “sawtooth”
What is the normal measurement of the Aorta?
2-2.5 cm
What is the normal measurement of the distal aorta?
1.5 cm
When is an aorta considered aneurysmal?
AP of 3cm or greater
What is the usual size of the IVC?
Less than 25 mm
When is the IVC considered dilated?
3.7cm
How does respiration affect the size of the IVC?
Initial inspiration = decreases
Suspended respiration = IVC increases
What are the indications for an arterial assessment?
- Pulsatile abdominal mass
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bruit
- Hemodynamic compromise of the lower limbs
What is a bruit?
The abnormal sound generated by turbulent flow of blood in an artery.
What is Arteriosclerosis?
Hardening of the arteries
What is Atheroma?
Lipid deposit in the arterial intima
What is Atherosclerosis?
A form of Arteriosclerosis effecting large and medium arteries where the artery is narrowed due to plaque build up.
What is plaque?
Platelets forming a cap over a fat deposit
What is another name for Atherosclerosis?
Atheromatous Disease
What is atheromatous disease?
Lipid deposits on the intimal lining of any artery alter the lining and provoke fibrosis and calcification.
What is atheromatous disease associated with?
Hypertension, smoking and diabetes.
What increases the incidence of atheromatous disease?
Age
Who does atheromatous disease more commonly effect?
Males
How does atheromatous disease appear on US? (4)
- Irregular walls
- Tortuous vessel
- Calcifications
- Narrowed lumen
What arteries can aneurysms affect?
Any artery
What is AAA?
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
A weakening of the aortic wall that leads to focal dilation.
What is ectasia?
A slight widening of the aorta up to 3 cm.
Where do AAA most commonly occur?
Below the level of the renals
When is an AAA more difficult to treat?
When is occurs above the renal vessels
What is the main cause of AAA?
Atherosclerosis
What are some other causes of AAA?
- Syphilis
- Systemic infections
- Cystic medial necrosis
- Other diseases (Marfan’s)
What is marfan’s disease?
Genetic disorder of connective tissue
What are the risk factors of AAA? (5)
- Men over 60
- Hypertension
- 1st degree family history
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Smoking
What is Hypercholesterolemia?
High cholesterol
What are the signs/symptoms of AAA? (5)
Generally asymptomatic but:
- Palpable mass
- Low back pain
- Abd pain
- Leg pain
- Incidental find on x-ray
What are the types of AAA?
- Fusiform - uniform dilation
2. Saccular - Protrusion on one side
What is saccular AAA usually due to?
Trauma or infection
What is the most common type of AAA?
Fusiform
What is the typical location of thrombus in AAA?
Anterior and left
What are the US features of AAA?
- 3 cm or greater
- Wall irregularities
- Thrombus
What is thrombus?
Clot attached to the vessel wall seen on US as medium to low level echoes.
What is thrombus caused by?
Slowing of the blood stream, injury to the vessel and alterations to the blood constituents.
How do platelets affect clotting?
More platelets = more clotting
Why is thrombus concerning?
Poorly attached thrombus can result in the release of emboli.
What are common associated findings of AAA?
- Bilateral iliac artery aneurysms of 2 cm or greater
2. Popliteal aneurysms greater than 1 cm
How often are popliteal aneurysms seen in conjunction with AAA?
25% of cases
What is the average rate of growth for AAA?
2-5 mm per year
What is important to do when imaging AAA? (7)
- Outer to outer wall meas
- Meas perpendicular to vessel
- 3 planes
- Note shape (sac vs fus)
- Image renals and iliacs
- Describe wall thickening/thrombus
- Document flow pattern
What is the follow-up/treatment on a 3-5cm aneurysm?
If it is increasing 2-5mm/year then serial US exams
If it is increasing 10 mm/year then surgery aortic graft
What is the follow-up/treatment on a 5-6 cm aneurysm?
Surgery with good prognosis
When is surgery considered imperative on a AAA?
6cm
What is the follow-up/treatment on a AAA greater than 7cm in size?
Surgery-aortic graft asap
What is the prognosis of a AAA greater than 7 cm with no surgery?
75% fatal rupture
25% will survive one year
What are the complications of AAA? (4)
- Stenosis/occlusion (distal)
- Rupture
- Dissection
- Thrombosis (distal)
What is aortic dissection?
When the aortic intima (and sometimes media) tears allowing blood to surge through the layers creating a false lumen.
What is the mortality rate of an AAA rupture?
Greater than 50 % (will die)
What is the operative mortality rate of a AAA rupture?
Greater than 40-60% (will die)
What are the signs/symptoms of a AAA rupture? (3)
- Pain
- Shock
- Expanding abdominal mass
What is the sonographic appearance of AAA?
- Free fluid in abdomen
- Complex fluid
- Compression/displacement of surrounding structures
What are the options of AAA repair?
- Traditional graft
2. Endovascular aortic stent
What is a traditional graft?
A way to repair the aorta by using a surgical bypass graft using a flexible synthetic material.
What materials are bypass grafts made out of?
Teflon or Dacron
What is an endovascular stent?
A less invasive way to repair a AAA by inserting a stent and ballooning it out.
How will a repaired AAA appear on US? (5)
- Ribbed appearance
- Straight distinct borders
- Increased echoes
- Difficult to visualize after 8 years
- Small layer of fluid post-op (normal)