WHAT IS AORTA ?
A combination of lifelong exposure to this kinetic energy and possible disruption of elastin architecture make it liable for meechanical dilatation which is called aneurysm.
Aorta is the large and major artery arising from the left heart otherwise called left ventricle,first courses up giving blood vessels to brain and both upper arms, arches down in the chest,travells down,pierces down the diapragm,become abdominal aorta, gives branches to all abdominal visera and end up dividing into two branches to lower limb vessels.
All blood vessels have a three layer wall, tunica adventitia, tunica media and tunica intima respectively from outside in. Arteries, arterioles , capillaries and veins have variations in their walls respective to their function. They are classified as impedence vessels, resistance vessels, exchange vessels and capacitance vessels.
Aorta is the impedence vessel as it has to withstand the tremendous kinetic energy which it is imparted while getting ejected forcefully from the left side of heart.
ully from the left ventricle. So unlike the other small vessels ,it is provided with much amount of elastin fibres in its tunica media.
A vessel is said to be aneurysmal if it gets dilated one and half times its original diameter
WHAT ARE THE COMMON DISEASES OF AORTA ?
AORTIC ANEURSMS - It is the dilatation of aorta,described in the section concerned.
AORTIC DISSECTION -It is sudden separation of the wall of the aorta .
AS AORTIC OCCLUSIVE DISEE - Described below.
WHAT IS OCCLUSIVE AORTO-ILIAC DISEASE ?
This is the typical atherosclerosis of aorta starting in the intima or media as deposits of cells, ,fat,calcium, consequent inflamation,etc eventually compromising the lumen. Most commonly it involves the aorta below the renal arteries and may involve individual vessels like iliac arteries or femoral arteries or vessels farthur down.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OCCLUSIVE AORTO-ILIAC DISEASE ?
Pain in lower limbs, no healing ulcers, rest pain, wasting of muscles ,rest pain and gangrene are the symptoms of aorto-iliac occlusive disease.
WHAT IS CLAUDICATION PAIN ?
The patients with aorto-iliac occlusion will feel pain in the calf mucles while walking which is due to inadequate suppy of blood due to block in the vessels above. This pain is a dull aching sort of pain relieved immediately after resting. Later this pain will increase to rest pain and the gangrene.
WHAT IS GANGRENE ?
Gangrene is the death of a part of a limb or any other organ due to lack of blood supply. This is characterised by change in color, loss of function,absent movements,lack of sensation,etc. There is a stage called pregangrene before the actual stage of gangrene where it may be reversble once the blood supply is restored.
WHAT CAUSES AORTO-ILIAC DISEASE ?
It is the atherosclerotic process,which is a wear and tear process involving the intima and media of vessels, later deposition of calcium,cholesterol,cells, surrounding inflamation,etc are the causes of aorto-iliac disease.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR AORTO-ILIAC OCCLUSION ?
Occlusions can be either bypassed surgically or dilated with a balloon and stented.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF AORTO-ILIAC OCCLUSION ?
Cludication pain may later progress in to rest pain and eventual gangrene and loss of limb unless cieculation is bypassed. Can have non healing ulcers due to ischemia, impotence due to lack of blood flow to errectile tissues, loss of hair, chronic kidney failure,etc are some of complications.