Atherosclerosis & Risk
Triple points!!
This generalized inflammatory disorder of the arterial tree is systemic, progressive, and associated with endothelial dysfunction.
What is Atherosclerosis?
An aneurysm is defined as a dilation of all three layers of an artery, specifically a 50% increase in diameter or a measurement of at least this many centimeters.
What is 3 cm?
An aortic dissection begins with a tear in this specific arterial layer, allowing blood to enter the media and create a false lumen.
What is the intima (intimal tear)?
Aortic cross-clamping causes an increase in afterload, which leads to an increase in blood pressure and this vascular measurement.
What is systemic vascular resistance (SVR)?
Carotid stenosis most commonly occurs at this specific anatomical location due to turbulent blood flow.
What is the carotid bifurcation (internal and external)?
This mechanical force, caused by the physical movement of blood against the vessel wall, is a probable cause of the initial endothelial damage that triggers plaque formation.
What is hemodynamic shear stress?
This is the classic triad of symptoms associated with an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) rupture.
What are hypotension, back pain, and a pulsatile abdominal mass?
In the Stanford classification system, this type of dissection involves a tear in the descending aorta only.
What is Stanford Type B?
Perfusion to tissues distal to the aortic clamp is dependent on this, rather than cardiac output or volume.
What is proximal aortic pressure?
This is considered the most reliable method for monitoring neurologic assessment during a Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA).
What is an awake neurologic assessment?
Atherosclerotic lesions typically develop at these two anatomical locations within the arterial tree.
What are branch points and the outer surfaces of arterial curves?
Aneurysms of the ascending aorta that cause dilation of the aortic valve can lead to these two cardiac complications.
What are aortic regurgitation (AR) and congestive heart failure (CHF)?
This DeBakey classification describes a tear confined strictly to the ascending aorta.
What is DeBakey Type II?
This is the primary reason for "unclamping hypotension" following the removal of an aortic cross-clamp.
What is central hypovolemia (due to redistribution of blood to under-perfused tissues)?
Postoperative hypotension following a CEA is attributed to this physiological reset.
What is the increased exposure of baroreceptors to pressure (after plaque removal)?
This clinical condition, characterized by an ABI < 0.9, occurs when metabolic demands exceed oxygen delivery during exercise.
What is intermittent claudication?
These are the two primary surgical indications for an aneurysm based on size and expansion rate.
What are a size > 5.5 cm or an expansion rate > 0.6 cm/year?
Double points!
Patients with an acute dissection often present appearing in shock, but their actual hemodynamic state is often characterized by these two findings.
What are vasoconstriction and hypertension?
Clamping the proximal descending aorta results in an approximately 90% reduction in these three specific physiological parameters.
What are spinal cord blood flow, renal blood flow, and GFR/urinary output?
During carotid clamping, this type of blood pressure management is preferred to maintain collateral circulation.
What is stable, high-normal blood pressure?
1/2 points!!
While aging and family history are non-modifiable, these two specific lipid-related imbalances are considered primary modifiable risk factors for the proinflammatory state of atherosclerosis.
What are increased triglycerides (or LDL) and decreased HDL?
Match the structure to the symptom: Hoarseness is caused by compression of this specific nerve.
What is the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN)?
This non-atherosclerotic cause of aortic dissection is specifically associated with rapid physical impact.
What are deceleration injuries?
This syndrome is characterized by flaccid paralysis of the lower extremities and loss of bowel/bladder function, while sparing proprioception.
What is Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome?
This major complication is the primary risk associated with carotid angioplasty and stenting, even when using protection devices.
What is microembolization?