Aortic Syndrome Part Two: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

You place your hands on the patient's abdomen...you think you can feel it...thud...thud...thud...

In the second part of our aortic syndromes series Dr Craig Douglas once again joined us to go through Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

In this episode we discuss:

• Definition of an aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm
• The screening process for AAA
• When to suspect AAA
• Diagnosing and managing ruptured AAA
• Craig and Jamie's mutual bugbear that a FAST scan does not look for the abdominal aorta! 

For more information on the sensitivity and specificity of palpating a pulsatile-expansile mass here is our #OHMNHS blog on the subject

Here is our #TakeVisually for this episode 

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Aortic Syndrome Part One: Aortic Dissection

Dr Craig Douglas came down to take us through aortic dissection, a rare but potentially fatal diagnosis.  We discuss who gets it, why they get it, how it presents and what we can do about it.  

• The presentation of aortic dissection including 'Chest Pain Plus One' - Abdominal pain, Collapse, Neurological Symptoms, Syncope and Vascular Symptoms
• The risk factors for aortic dissection and the Stanford Classification
• What investigations might make us suspicious for aortic dissection including the chest radiograph features and the role of synchronous blood pressures in both arms
• The management of aortic dissection
• Potential future risk stratification  

Also check out the RCEM Learning Aortic Dissection page

For a slightly franker take on aortic dissection here is David Carr's talk on 'The Aorta will %$#@!& You Up' from SMACCDUB 2016. 

Here is our Take Visually for this episode: 

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