Aortic Disease

Question 1

What is an aortic dissection?

Answer 1

A tear in the inner wall of the aorta that allowsblood to force the walls apart

Question 2

What course of action should be taken if the patient has an acute aortic dissection?

Answer 2

Immediate surgical intervention

Question 3

What are 4 conditions that can precede aortic dissection

Answer 3

Hypertension
Atherosclerosis
Marfan’s syndrome
Trauma

Question 4

What are 3 consequences of aortic dissection?

Answer 4

Occlusion of arterial branches
Rupture (either back into lumen or externally into the pericardium)
Dilation of ascending aorta leading to aortic regurgitation

Question 5

What is the the primary course of treatment for aortic dissection?

Answer 5

Surgery

Question 6

What is the the secondary course of treatment for aortic dissection?

Answer 6

BP control (sodium nitroprusside and beta blocker)

Question 7

What is Takayasu’s arteritis?

Answer 7

Granulomatous inflammation of the aorta and its major branches

Question 8

Is Takayasu’s arteritis more common in males or females

Answer 8

Females

Question 9

What are 4 of the consequences of Takayasu’s arteritis?

Answer 9

Stenosis
Thrombosis
Aneurysms
Renal artery stenosis

Question 10

What type of drug is used to treat Takayasu’s arteritis?

Answer 10

Steroids

Question 11

What is Syphilis?

Answer 11

A sexually transmitted bacterial infection which can have fatal effects in later life

Question 12

What bacteria is Syphilis spread by?

Answer 12

Treponema pallidum

Question 13

What form of medication given should be given in early stages of Syphilis to prevent late stage problems?

Answer 13

Antibiotics

Question 14

What are 3 of the late stage consequences of Syphilis if no early treatment is given?

Answer 14

Cardiac syphilis
Late neuro-syphilis
Gummatous syphilis

Question 15

What are 2 of the conditions that cardiac syphilis can develop into?

Answer 15

Syphilitic aortitis

Aortic regurgitation