The role of intravenous digital subtraction angiography as an adjunct to computed tomography in the preoperative assessment of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The purpose of this article is to determine the role of intravenous digital subtraction angiography (IV-DSA) as an adjunct to computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative evaluation of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. Sixty-six patients underwent IV-DSA as well as CT during a 2-year period. Sixty-four of the 66 patients underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The results of the 66 patients were analyzed to assess what additional information was obtained by IV-DSA concerning aneurysm size, vascular anomalies, visceral arterial anatomy, associated aneurysmal disease, and iliofemoral and distal occlusive disease. On the basis of this study, it is suggested that IV-DSA has a limited role in the preoperative evaluation of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.