VASCULAR/HAEM Flashcards
What are some causes of AAA?
- atheroma
- trauma
- infection
- CTDs
- inflammation e.g. Takayasu’s
What screening is in place for AAA? Explain the results
Offered as one off to all men over 65 - USS
- SMALL (3-4.4cm)
- no treatment, annual check-up + lifestyle advice - MEDIUM (4.5 - 5.4cm)
- no treatment, 3-monthly check up, lifestyle advice - HIGH (5.5cm or greater)
- high risk of bursting = elective EVAR required
How do you manage a ruptured AAA?
If haemodynamically stable, use CT to diagnose rupture
- Inform vascular surgeon + anaesthetist
- Perform: ECG, FBC, Amylase, Crossmatch, catheterise
- IV access - 2 large bore cannulae
- Treat shock with O- blood
- keep sBP below 100 to avoid rupturing contained leak - Give prophylactic Abx - cefuroxime + metronidazole
- Immediate transfer to theatre from A+E
What are some causes of microcytic anaemia? (TAILS)
T - Thalassaemia A - Anaemia of chronic disease I - Iron deficiency anaemia (= chronic blood loss, malabsorption, poor intake) L - Lead poisoning S - Sideroblastic anaemia
What are some causes of normocytic anaemia?
A - Acute blood loss A - Anaemia of chronic disease A - Aplastic anaemia H - Haemolytic anaemia H - Hypothyroidism
What are (i) megaloblastic + (ii) normoblastic causes of macrocytic anaemia?
(i) B12 or folate deficiency
(ii) alcohol excess
- reticulocytosis
- hypothyroidism
- liver disease
- drugs (azathioprine, phenytoin)
- marrow infiltration
- myelodysplastic syndromes
What do iron studies show in IDA?
FERRITIN - low, if normal then there may be an inflammatory process going on at same time TIBC - increased TRANSFERRIN SATURATION - increased
What is the 2ww pathway for patients with IDA?
All aged over 60 with IDA
Aged over 50 with rectal bleeding + IDA
If there is both B12 + folate deficiency, how do you treat?
Treat B12 FIRST
- treating pts with folic acid when they have B12 deficiency can lead to subacute combined degeneration of the cord
What test is specific for pernicious anaemia?
Intrinsic factor antibody
How is B12 deficiency treated?
1 mg of IM hydroxocobalamin 3 times each week for 2 weeks, then once every 3 months
What are the inherited causes of haemolytic anaemia?
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Hereditary elliptocytosis
- Thalassaemia
- Sickle cell anaemia
- G6PD
What are the acquired causes of haemolytic anaemia?
AIHA
- alloimmune haemolytic anaemia
- paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- microangiopathic haemolytis anaemia
- prosthetic heart valve related haemolysis
How does hereditary spherocytosis tend to present?
Jaundice, gallstones, splenomegaly
- aplastic crisis in presence of parovirus
How is hereditary spherocytosis managed?
Folate supplementation + splenectomy
- cholecystectomy may be required
How does G6PD tend to present? What are some triggers?
Jaundice, gallstones, anaemia, splenomegaly
- Heinz bodies on blood film
- triggers = broad beans, anti-malarials, sulfalazine
How is AIHA managed?
- Blood transfusions
- Prednisolone
- Rituximab
- Splenectomy
How do you confirm diagnosis of sickle cell disease?
Hb electrophoresis
What are some complications of sickle cell disease?
- anaemia
- increased risk of infection
- stroke, AVN in large joints
- pulmonary HTN
- priapism (painful + persistent erection)
- CKD
- sickle cell crisis
- acute chest syndrome
What is the general management for sickle cell patients?
- Avoid dehydration, keep warm + other triggers
- Vaccines up to date
- Abx prophylaxis = phenoxymethylpenicillin
- Hydroxycarbamide
- Blood transfusions for severe anaemia
- Bone marrow transplant can be curative
Describe thrombotic/vaso-occlusive sickle crisis.
Painful crisis
- precipitated by infection, dehydration, deoxygenation
- RBCs clog capillaries causing distal ischaemia
- can cause priapism in men
Describe splenic sequestration crisis in sickle cell.
RBCs block flow to spleen
- large + painful spleen
- medical emergency use blood transfusions + fluid resus
- splenectomy is definitive treatment
Describe aplastic crisis in sickle cell.
Caused by parovirus B19
- sudden drop in Hb as temp loss of creation of new RBCs
Describe acute chest syndrome in sickle cell.
Presents with dyspnoea, chest pain, pulmonary infiltrates on CXR, low pO2
- medical emergency
How is beta-thalassaemia managed?
- Regular transfusions
- monitor serum ferritin levels - Iron chelation - prevent/treat iron overload
- Splenectomy
- Bone marrow transplant can potentially be curative
What are some differentials for abnormal/prolonged bleeding?
- thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
- haemophilia A or B
- von Willebrand disease
- DIC (usually 2ndary to sepsis)
What will a platelet count of less than 50 cause?
- spontaneous bruising + prolonged bleeding times
- nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy periods, easy bruising, blood in urine/stool
What are those with a platelet count of less than 10 at risk of?
SPONTANEOUS BLEEDING
- intracranial bleeds or GI bleeds
- require platelet transfusion
How do you manage ITP?
CONSERVATIVE
- Prednisolone
- IVIG
- Rituximab
- Splenectomy
- monitor platelet count + educate pt re concerning signs of bleeding
How do you diagnose heparin induced thrombocytopenia?
Test for HIT antibodies in blood
What investigations diagnose von Willebrand Disease?
- Prolonged bleeding time
- APTT may be prolonged
- Factor VIII levels may be moderately reduced
- Normal platelets
How is von Willebrand disease managed?
Does not require day-to-day treatment
In response to major bleeding/trauma/pre-op:
1. Desmopressin - stimulate release of vWF
2. Infuse vWF
3. Factor VIII infusion
How is thrombophilia diagnosed?
PROLONGED APTT
- bleeding time, thrombin time, prothrombin time are all normal
How do you manage thrombophilia?
- Replace factor 8 or 9 by IVI
- For ACUTE episodes:
- infusions of clotting factors or FFP
- desmopressin to stimulate release of vWF
- tranexamic acid
What are some causes of DIC?
- sepsis
- trauma
- obstetric complications e.g. amniotic fluid embolism or HELLP syndrome
- malignancy
How do you investigate + diagnose DIC?
- Low platelets
- Prolonged APTT, PT and bleeding time
- Fibrin degradation products are often raised
schistocytes due to microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
How do you manage DIC?
Find + address underlying cause
- RESUS
- A+B: consider airway support + O2
- C: IV access, consider fluids, blood, platelets + FFP
- discuss with ICU
What are some risk factors for PAD?
- older age
- FHx
- male
- smoking + alcohol
- poor diet
- minimal exercise
- obesity
- diabetes