[The surgical treatment of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta].

Between June 1983 and December 1987, 52 patients underwent resection of a thoracic descending aortic aneurysm. Thirty-day mortality was 11.5%; 4.8% for elective cases and 36.5% for patients operated upon in emergency. Spinal cord injury was present in two patients (4%). One patient was paraplegic, the other showed mild paraparesis, which was completely resolved. Both patients were operated for ruptured aneurysms. Severe postoperative renal dysfunction was present in 4 patients (7.5%) and was strongly related to intraoperative hypotension. The cumulative proportional survival rate was 81% at one year and 66% at two years of the total group, 85% at one year and 72% at two years for the patients presenting with nonruptured aneurysms. Aneurysms of the thoracic descending aorta can be resected with an acceptable mortality and morbidity. Just as in abdominal aneurysms, surgery definitely improves the outcome for these patients, who have a rather poor prognosis if left untreated.