Lethal complications associated with nonrestrictive treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms
S. I. Cho, W. C. Johnson, H. L. Bush Jr, W. C. Widrich, J. B. Huse and D. C. Nabseth
Five high-risk patients received nonresective treatment of abdominal aortic
aneurysms (AAAs). This treatment included ligation of the iliac arteries to
induce acute thrombosis of AAA and a simultaneous axillobifemoral bypass
for restoration of arterial flow to the lower extremities. Of these five
patients, lethal complications associated with this procedure developed in
four. The complications included rupture, infection of the thrombotic
aortic aneurysm, visceral ischemia, and consumptive coagulopathy. This high
incidence of lethal complications and the unacceptably high patient
mortality in these five patients indicates extreme precaution in the
application of nonresective treatment for AAA.
