[Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Diagnostic, prognostic, and the therapeutic knowledge after review of cases and the literature].

Report on 80 patients with aneurysm of the abdominal aorta seen in this clinic during the period January 1968 to December 1974. They are divided into three groups, viz. asymptomatic, symptomatic and ruptured. The indication for and urgency of surgery are discussed and the results in 62 surgical cases are compared with those in 18 where surgery was not performed. The difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta are outlined. Only in these cases can the prognosis still be decisively improved by early recognition and immediate treatment.