[Surgery of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta. Clinical study and surgical results. Apropos of a series of 54 cases].

54 patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm were hospitalized between 1969 and 1980 in the Clinic of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Rennes (Pr. Y. Logeais): 35 were ruptured aneurysms, 19 non-ruptured. The average age of the patients was 70.6 years. 48% of patients showed signs of atheroma in at least one other site. 24% had arterial hypertension. Arteriography was carried out in 51.5% of the non-ruptured aneurysm cases and in 26% of the ruptured cases. Both ultrasound and tomography are regarded presently as very useful tests. The intervention carried out in 41 patients always involved the insertion of a by-pass graft (aortic only in 7 cases; aorto-biiliac in 19 cases; aorto-bifemoral in 15 cases). Mortality was 7.7% for the non-ruptured aneurysms. 59% for the ruptured aneurysms, the deaths above all being related to the degree of visceral ischaemia. Secondary mortality was comparable for all the aneurysms operated on. More than 80% of patients were surviving 5 years after surgery.