Leaked AAA - misc.

Question 1

What are the 2 types of AAA?

Answer 1

• saccular (outpocketing)
• fusiform (diffuse swelling).

Question 2

Which areas can the aneurysm rupture?

Answer 2

• peritoneal tissue
• retroperitoneal tissue

—> almost always FATAL

Question 3

At which size are AAAs prone to rupture?

Answer 3

6 to 7 cm in size

Question 4

What signs of an AAA are identified on physical examination?

Answer 4

•pulsatile mass in the abdomen.

Question 5

What is the surgical intervention for an AAA?

Answer 5

surgical resection with dacron graft

Question 6

What are the microscopic features of an AAA?

Answer 6

• atheroma.
• Cholesterol clefts (in atheroma)
• ulceration
• hemorrhage

Despite this ulceration, atheromatous emboli are rare (or at least, complications of them are rare).

Question 7

What is the clinical presentation of an AAA?

Answer 7

• Severe central abdominal pain
• commonly radiating to the back
• possiblly radiates to groin along the course of the genito-femoral nerve.

The patient may collapse from the accompanying hypotensive shock or suddenly die.

Question 8

What are the lifestyle risk factors + clues in the Hx for an AAA?

Answer 8

• smoking

history of

• angina
• MI
• intermittent claudication
• TIA
• / stroke