title: Inflammatory aneurysms of the abdominal aorta.
abstract: Inflammatory aneurysms of the abdominal aorta (IAAAs) have distinctive clinical and physical characteristics that separate them from typical atherosclerotic aneurysms. They were identified in 19 (7.2%) of 265 patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Symptoms were present in 12 (63%) of 19, with one patient presenting with rupture, and multiple symptoms were present in six (32%). Intraoperatively, all aneurysms exhibited dense periaortic inflammation. Adjacent structures most frequently involved were the duodenum in 15 (79%) of 19 patients, the left renal vein in six (32%) of 19, and the ureter in five (26%) of 19. Seventeen (94%) of the 18 patients who underwent elective aneurysm resection survived. The involvement of retroperitoneal structures varied in number and severity, demonstrating that a wide spectrum of inflammation is present in IAAAs, making diagnosis and definition difficult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Moosa
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Peitzman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Steed
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Julian
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology