Aortic aneurysms

Question 1

Surveillance intervals for aortic aneurysm

Answer 1

3-3.9 cm= 24mo
4-4.5 cm = 12mo
4.6-5cm = 6mo
>5cm = 3mo

Question 2

Causes of aortic aneurysm rupture

Answer 2

Risk of rupture is higher in females
Smokers
HTN - poorly controlled
COPD
Existing vascular disease
Family history

Question 3

Differenetials for ruptured aortic aneurysm

Answer 3

Vascular - aortic dissection, mesenteric Ischemia
GI. - pancreatitis, perforated peptic ulcer, bowel perf or obstruction, GI haemorrhage
Renal/GU -renal colic, spontaneous renal haemorrhage, pyelonephritis, ruptured ectopic , ovarian torsion
MSK/ Neurologic - disc herniation, SC compression, retroperitoneal hematoma

Back pain
Pancreatitis
Renal colic
Lower limb ischemia

Question 4

Clin F of ruputured aortic aneurysm

Answer 4

Pain - back, loin pain, abdo pain radiating to back
CV failure - shock
Digital ischemia

Question 5

Most common location for abdominal aortic anuerysm

Answer 5

Infrarenal

Question 6

What type of aortic anueurysm is most common

Answer 6

abdominal

Question 7

Compare causes of abdominal and thoracic aneurysms

Answer 7

Abdominal: smoking, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia and arterial HTN
Thoracic: arterial, bicuspid aoritc valve, tertiary syphillis, CT diseases, trauma, smoking

Question 8

Compare clin f of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms

Answer 8

Abdo: pulsatile abdo mass, bruit on auscultation, LBP
Thoracic: feeling of pressure in chest, thoracic back pain

Question 9

Compare dx ix of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms

Answer 9

Abdo: US
Thoracic: CXR and CTA