Vascular Surgery Flashcards
Define Acute mesenteric ischaemia
Sudden decrease in blood supply to the bowel resulting in bowel ischaemia and rapid gangrene
List the common causes of acute mesenteric ischaemia
AAA Embolism Atherosclerosis (thrombus-in-situ) Shock Coagulopathy Malignancy Inflammatory disorders
Describe clinical features of mesenteric ischaemia
- Generalised abdominal pain, out of proportion to other clinical findings
- Nausea and vomiting
- History indicating potential embolic sources
- Presentation similar to bowel perforation (late stage)
What initial lab investigations would you order when considering mesenteric ischaemia?
- ABG - assess degree of acidosis and serum lactate
- Routine bloods: FBCs, U+Es, Clotting screen, LFTs, G+S
- Amylase (will be raised)
What is the diagnostic test for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
CT angiography with IV contrast - Triple phase scan (thin slices taken in arterial phase)
What will a CT scan of arterial bowel ischaemia show?
Oedematous bowel
Loss of bowel wall enhancement
Pneumatosis intestinalis
What initial management is needed in acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Urgent resuscitation - IV fluids, catheter insertion, fluid balance chart
Broad spectrum antibiotics prescribed
Early ITU admission if significant acidosis
What is the definitive management for ischaemic bowel?
- Excision of necrotic or non viable bowel
- Revascularisation of bowel - removal of thrombus or embolism via angioplasty
What are the main complications of acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Bowel necrosis
Bowel perforation
What is the mortality rate for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
50-80% (even with treatment)
Define chronic mesenteric ischaemia
Lack of blood supply to the bowel which gradually deteriorates over time as a result of atherosclerosis in the CT, SMA or IMA
Why do symptoms of chronic mesenteric ischaemia tend to occur after eating?
Increased demand of blood supply causes a transient ischaemia of the bowel
What is the pathophysiology of chronic mesenteric ischaemia?
Gradual build up of atherosclerotic plaques within the lumen of at least two of the CT, SMA or IMA causing reduced blood flow and so ischaemia
What are the main risk factors for chronic mesenteric ischaemia?
Smoking
Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus
Hypercholesterolaemia
Describe the classical clinical features of chronic mesenteric ischaemia
Post prandial pain (10mins-4hrs post eating) Weight loss Concurrent vascular co morbidities Change in bowel habit N+V
What is the gold standard diagnostic test for chronic mesenteric ischaemia?
CT angiography
What are possible differentials for chronic non specific abdominal pain?
Chronic pancreatitis
Gallstone pathology
Peptic ulcer disease
Upper GI malignancy
What medical management is indicated for chronic mesenteric ischaemia?
Antiplatelet agent
Statin
Lifestyle advice: weight loss, increasing exercise, smoking cessation
What surgical intervention may be indicated in chronic mesenteric ischaemia?
Endovascular - mesenteric angioplasty with stenting
Open - endarterectomy or bypass
When would surgical intervention be considered in chronic mesenteric ischaemia?
Severe disease
Progressive disease
Presence of debilitating symptoms (eg weight loss or malabsorption)
What are the main complications of chronic mesenteric ischaemia?
Bowel infarction
Malabsorption
Concurrent CVS disease
What is an aneurysm?
A persistent, abnormal dilation of an artery (>1.5x its normal diameter)
Define an aneurysm
Persistent, abnormal dilation of an artery above 1.5x its normal diameter
What possible causes are there of aneurysms?
Trauma
Infection
CT disease
Inflammatory disease (eg. Takayasu’s aortitis)
What is the gold standard imaging for peripheral and visceral aneurysms?
CT angiography
What is an alternative investigation for aneurysms to reduce kidney damage?
MR angiography
What imaging modality can be used for detection and follow up of aneurysms?
US duplex scan
What are the two most common peripheral artery aneurysms?
Popliteal artery
Femoral artery
How may a popliteal artery aneurysm present?
Acute limb ischaemia
Intermittent claudication
Incidental finding
What are the main DDx for swelling in the popliteal fossa?
Politeal aneurysm
Bakers cyst
Lymphadenopathy
When should an asymptomatic popliteal aneurysm be treated?
If it is greater than 2cm
Why should all symptomatic popliteal aneurysms be treated?
High risk of embolisation
What surgical options are there for popliteal aneurysms?
- Endovascular repair (stent insertion)
- Open repair (ligation of aneurysm or resection with a bypass graft)
What are the two major causes for development of a femoral artery aneurysm?
- Percutaneous vascular interventions
- IVDU using the groin
What will a patient with femoral aneurysms normally present with?
Varying degrees of claudication or acute limb ischaemia
* Often may have no symptoms beside swelling in the groin
What causes the signs and symptoms of femoral aneurysms?
Thrombosis, rupture or embolisation
What additional features may be seen in an IVDU patient with a femoral aneurysm?
Concurrent infection
What is the main treatment for a femoral artery aneurysm?
Open surgical repair
Which visceral arteries are most commonly affected by aneurysm formation?
- Splenic artery
- Hepatic artery
- Renal artery
How may a splenic artery aneurysm present?
Vague epigastric or LUQ pain
Rupture –> severe abdo pain and haemodynamic compromise
What is first line management for a splenic artery aneurysm?
Endovascular repair
What are the common causes of a hepatic artery aneurysm?
Percutaneous instrumentation
Trauma
Degenerative disease
Post liver transplant
What may a symptomatic case of hepatic artery aneurysms present like?
Vague RUQ or epigastric pain
Jaundice (if biliary obstruction)
What is first line management for hepatic artery aneurysms?
Endovascular repair –> best with embolisation or stent gradts
How may a patient with a symptomatic renal artery aneurysm present?
Haematuria
Resistent hypertension
Loin pain
What is the mainstay of treatment for a patient with a renal artery aneurysm?
Endovascular repair:
- Hilar –> with coils and self expanding stents
- Main artery –> stent
What are some of the risk factors for splenic artery aneurysms?
- Female
- Portal hypertension
- Pancreatitis
What is chronic limb ischaemia typically caused by?
Atherosclerosis (typically in the lower limbs)
What are the risk factors for chronic limb ischaemia?
Smoking Diabetes mellitus Hypertension Hyperlipidaemia Increasing age Family history Obesity + physical inactivity
Describe the fontaine classification of chronic leg ischamia
1 - Asymptomatic
2 - Intermittent claudication
3 - Ischaemic rest apin
4 - Ulceration or gangrene (or both)
Describe Buerger’s test briefly
Lie the patient supine and raise their legs until they go pale - note the angle at which this happens (= Buerger’s angle)
Then lower the legs until the colour returns/goes hyperaemic
What angle in Buerger’s test will indicate severe chronic limb ischaemia?
Angle of less than 20 degrees
What is Leriche syndrome?
Form of peripheral arterial disease affecting the aortic bifurcation – presents with buttock or thigh pain +/- erectile dysfunction
What three definitions are there for critical limb ischaemia?
- Ischaemic rest pain for >2 weeks, requiring opioids
- Presence of ischaemic lesions (or gangrene attributable to PVD)
- ABPI >0.5
What clinical features are seen on examination of a limb with critical ischaemia?
Pale, cold and pulseless limb
Hair loss, skin changes (eg. atrophic, ulceration, gangrene), thickened nails
What are the two major differentials for limb ischaemia?
Spinal stenosis ("neurogenic claudication") Acute limb ischaemia
How may spinal stenosis be differentiated from chronic limb ischaemia?
Pain in the back radiating down lateral aspect of leg
Symptoms worse on initial movement and relieved by sitting
How is the ABPI used to quantify the severity of chronic limb ischaemia?
Normal = >0.9 Mild = 0.8-0.9 Moderate = 0.5-0.8 Severe = <0.5
What may cause a falsely elevated ABPI?
Calcification and hardening of arteries
>1.2
What initial investigation should be used for critical limb ischaemia?
Doppler ultrasound
What additional assessment should be done to assess for risk factors in chronic limb ischaemia?
Cardiovascular risk assessment
- BP
- Blood glucose
- Lipid profile
- ECG
What should be checked in a patient <50yrs with chronic limb ischaemia?
Thrombophillia screen Homocysteine levels (higher is associated with CVS events)
What is the management for CVS risk factors in chronic limb ischaemia?
- Lifestyle advice
- Statin therapy
- Antiplatelet therapy
- Optimise diabetic control
What is first line management for intermittent claudication?
Enrolment into a local supervised exercise programme
When should surgical intervention be offered to patients with chronic limb ischaemia?
- If risk factor modification has been discussed
- Supervised exercise has failed to improve symptoms
What are the two main surgical interventions used for chronic limb ischaemia?
- Angioplasty +/- stenting
- Bypass grafting (often for diffuse disease or younger)
- Combination (eg. surgery to clean lesion to allow access for angioplasty to another region)
When should amputation be considered in chronic limb ischaemia?
Unsuitable for revascularisation with ischaemia causing incurable symptoms or gangrene leading to sepsis
What complications are there of chronic limb ischaemia?
- Sepsis (secondary to infected gangrene)
- Acute on chronic ischaemia
- Amputation
- Reduced mobility
- Reduced QoL
What is the 5 year mortality rate of those diagnosed with chronic limb ischaemia?
~50%
Define acute limb ischaemia
Sudden decrease in limb perfusion that threatens the viability of the limb