Cardiovascular 2 Flashcards
(390 cards)
what is the pathophysiology of aortic dissection?
- aortic dissection begins with a tear in the intimal lining of the aorta
- the tear allows a column of blood under pressure to enter the aortic wall, forming a haemotoma which separates the intima from the adventitia and creates a false lumen
- the false lumen extends for a variable distance in either direction; anterograde (towards bifurcations) and retrograde (towards the aortic root)
what is the clinical presentation of aortic dissection?
- sudden onset of severe, tearing and central chest pain that radiates to the back and down the arms
- pain described as tearing in nature and may be migratory
- hypertension
- unequal BP in the arms
- pain is maximal from the time of onset, unlike in MI where the pain gains in intensity
- patients may be shocked and may have neurological symptoms secondary to loss of blood supply to the spinal cord
- peripheral pulses may be absent
what can aortic dissection develop into?
- may develop aortic regurgitation, coronary ischaemia and cardiac tamponade
- distal extension may produce acute kidney failure, acute lower limb ischaemia or visceral ischaemia
what are differential diagnoses of aortic dissection?
- acute coronary syndrome
- MI
- aortic regurgitation without dissection
- MSK pain
- pericarditis
- cholecystitis
- atherosclerotic embolism
how is aortic dissection diagnosed?
CXR:
• widened mediastinum
urgent CT scan, transoesophageal echocardiography or MRI will confirm diagnosis
what is the treatment of aortic dissection?
- at least 50% are hypertensive and may require urgent antihypertensive medication to reduce blood pressure to less than 120mmHg - give IV beta-blockers or vasodilators
- adequate analgesia
- surgery to replace aortic arch
- endovascular intervention with stents
- patients require long term follow-up with CT or MRI
what is peripheral vascular disease? what is its epidemiology?
- partial blockage of leg or peripheral vessels by an atherosclerotic plaque/resulting thrombus resulting in insufficient perfusion of the lower limb resulting in lower limb ischaemia
- commonly caused by atherosclerosis and usually affects the aorta-iliac and infra-inguinal arteries
- more common in men than women
what are risk factors for peripheral vascular disease?
- smoking
- diabetes
- hypercholesterolaemia
- hypertension
- physical inactivity
- obesity
what are features of intermittent claudication?
- this is a cramping pain that is induced by exercise and relieved by rest
- pain is distal to site of atheroma
- occurs when anaerobic metabolism comes into effect when O2 demand outstrips supply
- pain is the result of lactic acid production
- caused by inadequate blood supply to the affected muscles resulting in moderate ischaemia
- most commonly seen in the calf and leg muscles as a result of atheroma of the leg arteries
- leg pulses are often absent and the feet may be cold
what are features of critical limb ischaemia in moderate ischaemia/PVD?
• blood supply is barely adequate to allow basal
metabolism
• no reserve available for increased demand
• rest pain that is typically nocturnal
• risk of gangrene and/or infection
• chronic condition and the most severe clinical manifestation of peripheral vascular disease
what are general symptoms of chronic lower limb ischaemia?
- absent femoral, popliteal or foot pulses
* cold, white legs
what are differential diagnoses of chronic lower limb ischaemia?
- osteoarthritis of hip/knee due to knee pain at rest
* peripheral neuropathy
how is chronic lower limb ischaemia diagnosed?
- exclude arteritis by looking at ESR/CRP; they would be raised in arteritis
- FBC: looking particularly at haemoglobin to exclude anaemia or polycthaemia
- ECG to look for cardiac ischaemia
- severity of disease is indicated by the ankle/brachial pressure index (ABPI)
- colour duplex ultrasound; first line test
- MR/CT angiography to assess extent and location of stenoses and quality of distal vessels if considering intervention
what is the ankle/brachial pressure index (ABPI)? what are the values of intermittend claudication and critical leg ischaemia?
- measurement of the cuff pressure at which blood flow is detectable by Doppler in the posterior tibial or anterior tibial arteries compared to the brachial artery
- intermittent claudication associated with an ABPI of 0.5-0.9
- values less than 0.5 are associated with critical leg ischaemia
what are the symptoms of acute lower limb ischaemia?
- Pain
- Pallor
- Perishing cold
- Pulseless
- Paralysis
- Paraesthesia - abnormal tingling or prickling
- the more P’s present the more sudden and the more complete
what is done for risk factor modification for peripheral vascular disease?
- smoking cessation - since every time you smoke, small vessels in the muscles near to ischaemia that provide ‘back up supply’ contract in response to nicotine and tobacco resulting in a reduction in blood flow
- treat hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes
- antiplatelet agent such as P2Y12 inhibitor to prevent progression and minimise risk
- exercise and weight loss
how is revascularisation done for peripheral vascular disease?
- percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: essentially squash plaque and thus increase perfusion and reduce ischaemia
- bypass procedure
- amputation if severe
what is the treatment of acute ischaemia in peripheral vascular disease?
- surgical emergency requiring revascularisation within 4-6hrs to save limb
- this is an emergency and requires urgent surgery and angioplasty
- intra-arterial thrombolysis
- surgical removal of embolus if present
what are clinical symptoms and sings linked to diagnosis of critical/acute ischaemia?
- severe nocturnal pain in all toes of the left foot only relieved by hanging foot over the edge of bed (using gravity to perfuse) = critical ischaemia
- acute MI = acute ischaemia
- loss of the use of right side of body and fast irregular pulse = acute ischaemia
- non-healing painful ulcer on big toe with no trauma = critical ischaemia
what is the definition of shock?
term used to describe acute circulatory failure with inadequate or inappropriately distributed tissue perfusion (inadequate substrate for aerobic cellular respiration), resulting in generalised hypoxia and/or an inability of the cells to utilise oxygen
what is clinical presentation of shock?
- skin is pale, cold, sweaty and vasoconstricted
- pulse is weak and rapid
- pulse pressure reduced
- mean arterial pressure may be maintained
- arterial BP is not a good indicator of shock since it will be maintained until a very large amount of blood loss occurs
- reduced urine output
- confusion, weakness, collapse and coma
what is the earliest and most accurate sign of shock?
capillary refill time taking more than 3 seconds to turn pink after 5 seconds of compression
what are causes of shock?
- hypovolaemic shock
- cardiogenic shock
- distributive shock:
• septic shock
• anaphylactic shock
• neurogenic shock - anaemic shock
- cytotoxic shock
what are types of distributive shock?
septic, anaphylactic and neurogenic shock