Study material for the course: aVLCH0731c, aVLCH0832c, aZLCH0732c, aZLCH0833c
Author: MUDr. Luboš Kubíček, Ph.D.
Department: 2nd Department of Surgery, St. Anne's University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno
Main goal of
this lecture is to present the topic of arterial aneurysms, this means to
explain what is it an aneurysm, why and how it develops and what are a risk
factors for its development. Another fundamental information from this lecture
are a typical location where can be aneurysms found, what are an arteries with
higher probability of aneurysm presence. Aneurysm presence is usually silent
with very poor symptoms, nevertheless you have to get familiar with these symptoms
to keep the possibility of aneurysm presence in mind during diagnostic process.
Main risk of aneurysms is the risk of rupture, thus our next goal is to learn a
symptoms of this condition and how to behave in such a situation. Aneurysm
treatment is complicated and it belongs to a specialized center, you should get
familiar with treatment possibilities for arterial aneurysms. After this
lecture you should be able to identify a patient with aneurysm based on
clinical data and imaging methods, you should be able to inform patient
properly about his condition and send him/her to specialized center.
Arterial
aneurysms are an obscure condition both for laics and medical professionals,
what can cause a time delay in treatment of these patients which can be in a
case of complicated aneurysm (mainly rupture) in an imminent risk of death. But
it is rather common condition, typically in elder population and because of
enormous mortality in the case of rupture it is also clinically severe
condition. AAA rupture is the tenth most common cause of death worldwide and
e.g. Albert Einstein died due to AAA rupture. Not only surgeons are dealing
with aneurysms, but it can be diagnosed in ambulances of neurologist,
angiologist and general practitioner, who are most commonly presented with
aneurysm´s symptoms and complications, these physicians together with emergency
service stand in a firs line in aneurysm rupture diagnostics and thus in the
endeavor to save patients life. Treatment of this condition, both elective and
urgent, belongs to the specialized centers of vascular surgery or neuro surgery
in the case of intracranial aneurysms.
Time required
for this lecture: 90 minutes
The most
important information from this lecture is that arterial aneurysms are not
rare, quite opposite it is rather frequent and potentially fatal condition.
Keeping in mid the possibility of aneurysm presence is the basic approach
during a diagnostic process in case of any patient with risk factors (but
without them as well). Because of missing screening program in Czech Republic
aneurysms are often found by accident or their first sign is some of the
complications including the rupture. If the aneurysm is identified patient
should be send to specialized center experienced with treatment of this
condition both in open surgery and endovascular approach.
After this
lecture you should be aware of aneurysm presence in your future patients not
only in surgical praxis but also e.g. in general practitioner ambulance. You
should know the risk factors for aneurysm development and the most common
locations and focus on these during a diagnostic process. Although the symptoms
of aneurysm presence are poor, you should be able to distinguish the basic
symptoms for the most common types of aneurysms and keep the possibility of
aneurysm in mind during the diagnostic process. You should know the basic
treatment options of aneurysms thus you should be able to inform the patient
about his/her condition, prognosis and treatment options.