Vascular surgery Flashcards
Define abdominal aortic aneurysm
Abdominal aorta diameter >1.5x expected (eg >3cm)
Describe the epidemiology and RF of AAA
M >F
RFs: smoking, FHx, age, HTN, connective tissue disease, syphilis
Describe the pathophysiology of AAA
Loss of connective tissue in aortic wall eg. collagen + elastin
->dilatation
Describe the presentation of AAA
May be asymptomatic + unruptured: screening
Symptomatic + unruptured: abdo/flank pain, obstructive Sxs
-Can also cause complications such as thrombosis/emboli
Symptomatic + ruptured: collapse, shock, constant severe pain *may mimic renal colic
Describe the signs of AAA on examination
Ruptured AAA: hypotension, tachycardia, decreased GCS, pallor, abdominal distension + tenderness, pulsatile mass
Unruptured: pulsatile + expansile epigastric mass
Describe the investigations for AAA
Ruptured:
-Bloods (FBC, CRP, U+Es, amylase/lipase, clotting, CM)
-Imaging: USS or CTA
Unruptured: USS -> CTA/MRA
Describe the screening for AAA
Men invited at 65 years <3cm: discharged for life 3-4.4cm: annual surveillance 4.5-5.4cm: 3 monthly surveillance >5.5cm: intervention
Describe the management of unruptured AAA
Depends on size
Conservative:
-Smoking cessation
Medical:
- BP control
- Antiplatelet (aspirin/clopi)
Surgical/interventional: >5.5cm or rapidly growing
- EVAR
- Open surgical repair
Describe the management of ruptured AAA
A to E approach -IV access, bloods, fluid resus + blood products (best) -Make NBM, analgesia -USS -> CTA Senior support, ITU, vascular Urgent surgical repair: EVAR or open
Describe the prognosis for AAA
Rupture is often fatal
Intervention has relatively high mortality rates
Describe the complications of AAA
Rupture (+death)
Thrombosis + emboli
Intervention: graft infection, limb occlusion, endoleak, erectile dysfunction
Describe the types of aneurysm
Aneurysm: ballooning in the wall of an artery
False: damage to blood vessel wall causing collection of between the layers
True: bulge comprising all 3 layers of the aortic wall
Describe the epidemiology of aortic dissection
Typical: male in 50s
Also younger patients (Marfan’s)
Define aortic dissection
A separation of the inner layer of the aortic wall (tunica intima + tunica media)
Leads to the creation of a false lumen
Describe the aetiology + RF of aortic dissection
- Connective tissue disease eg. Marfan’s
- Hypertension
- Iatrogenic
- Drug use (cocaine)
- Smoking
Describe the classification of aortic dissection
Stanford A: affects ascending aorta/arch
Stanford B: affects descending aorta
Describe the presentation of aortic dissection
- Sudden onset, severe, ‘tearing’, chest/back/abdo pain, radiates to back, relieved by sitting forwards
- Sweating, nausea
- Symptoms of limb ischaemia eg. limb pain, weakness, paraesthesia
- Shock
- Syncope
Describe the signs of aortic dissection on examination
- General: tachycardia, hypotension, sweating
- Reduced/absent pulses
- Systolic BP difference between arms
- Diastolic murmur
- Focal neuro deficit (in stroke)
Describe the investigations for aortic dissection
- If HD unstable: A to E approach
- History + examination
- Bloods: FBC, CRP, U+Es, trops, clotting, CM, lactate
- ECG (DDx, also infarction may occur as complication)
- CXR: widening of mediastinum, effusion
- > TTE/CT (CT definitive, TTE if suspected + available)
Describe the management of aortic dissection
- If HD unstable: A to E approach
- IV access + fluid resus/blood products
- NBM, analgesia
Medical:
-IV beta-blocker or CCB (if no AR present) -> vasodilator
Surgical/interventional:
- Type A: emergency surgery
- Complicated Type B: urgent TEVAR/open repair
- Uncomplicated Type B: medical therapy, consider Sx
Describe the prognosis of aortic dissection
Untreated proximal dissection: death in 50% by 24 hours
Describe the complications of aortic dissection
Cardiac tamponade Aortic valve incompetence MI Regional ischaemia eg. limb, cerebral, renal Aneurysmal degeneration
Describe the epidemiology of peripheral vascular disease
Increases with age
Usually affects >40s
Define peripheral arterial disease
Symptoms caused by obstruction of the lower limb arteries
Describe the aetiology of PAD
Atherosclerosis (almost always) Buerger's disease Aortic coarctation Dissection Tumour etc
Describe the stages of PAD
Fontaine classification
- Asymptomatic
- Mild claudication
- Severe claudication
- Ischaemic rest pain
- Ulceration/gangrene
Describe the spectrum of PAD
Asymptomatic
Claudication
Chronic critical limb ischaemia: >2 weeks, rest pain/tissue loss
Acute limb ischaemia
Describe the classic signs of acute limb ischaemia
6 P’s
- Pale
- Painful
- Pulseless
- Parasthesia
- Paralysis
- Perishingly cold
Describe the presentation of PAD
Claudication:
- Intermittent calf/buttock pain on exertion, relieves with rest
- Reproducible, worse on incline/stairs
Erectile dysfunction (aortoiliac disease)
Critical limb ischaemia:
- Rest pain
- Gangrene/ulcers
Acute ischaemia: 6 Ps
Describe the signs of PAD on examination
Inspection:
- Bypass scar
- Pallor/dependent rubor
- Loss of hair on dorsum
- Skin changes: thinning (shiny/scaly), ulceration
Palpation:
- Weak/absent pulses
- Reduced sensation
Buerger’s test:
- Reduced Buerger’s angle (<30)
- Buerger’s sign (reactive hyperaemia)
Describe the investigations for PAD
Stable PAD:
- History and examination
- ABPI +/- exercise ABPI eg claudication
- Bloods (for RFs): U+Es, HbA1c, lipids
- Duplex USS
- CTA/MRA/intra-arterial DSA
Acute limb ischaemia:
- Bloods
- Doppler USS
- Imaging
Describe the interpretation of ABPI
<0.80: PAD
<0.6: severe PAD
1.0-1.2/3: normal
>1.2/3: calcification eg. age+ DM