[Intraoperative findings and postoperative computer tomographic follow up of inflammatory aortic aneurysm].
OBJECTIVE
Retrospective evaluation of postoperative long-term results after surgery of inflammatory aortic aneurysms (IAAA) with computed tomography (CT). Findings in CT were analysed with particular attention to the development of inflammatory tissue adjacent to the aneurysm site.


METHODS
Of 2101 patients operated on an aortic aneurysm 5.4% (114 patients) presented typical intraoperative features of inflammatory aortic aneurysms. 54 of these 114 patients (47%) were examined via computed tomography pre- and post-operatively. On an average the follow-up-study was performed 2.5 years postoperatively.


RESULTS
All follow-up-studies revealed a correct location of the aortic prostheses. In 85.1% of the cases there was either no or negligible persisting inflammatory tissue with a diameter of less than 2 mm. 10.6% of the patients demonstrated remaining but reduced inflammatory tissue. In 4.3% of the cases the extent of the inflammatory tissue had not changed. Aneurysms of the anastomoses (n = 4), morphologic renal changes (n = 7) and an aorto-enteric fistula were demonstrated by CT as postoperative complications.


CONCLUSIONS
In evaluating recurrence of the aneurysm and possible complications as well as the development of the inflammatory tissue, postoperatively performed computed tomography proved a reliable diagnostic method.
Koch
J A
JA
Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.
Poll
L
L
Klinger
G
G
Kniemeyer
H W
HW
Mödder
U
U
D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001025:Aortitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed