Helical CT for the study of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients undergoing conventional surgical repair.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability of helical computed tomography (CT) as sole preoperative diagnostic technique for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and to compare these results with the surgical findings.


METHODS
Thirty-three patients undergoing elective surgical repair.


METHODS
Helical CT, Doppler exam of lower limbs, digital angiography, in case of peripheral vascular disease, and intraoperative evaluation.


RESULTS
Helical CT correctly detected, in all cases, the proximal and distal extent of the AAA. The coeliac axis and its branches, the superior mesenteric artery and renal vessels as well as the inferior vena cava were always clearly depicted, showing anatomical variants or pathological involvement in 14 patients (42.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Helical CT can be used as the sole method for preoperative imaging of AAA. It allows a complete and precise evaluation of size, extent and relationship of the AAA, the surrounding vessels and other abdominal structures.
Clinica Chirurgica B, University of Genoa, School of Medicine, Italy.
G
G
Simoni
R
R
Perrone
G
G
Cittadini
G
G
De Caro
A
A
Baiardi
D
D
Civalleri
D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D002445:Celiac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging