title: Long-term computed tomography follow-up after open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the findings on computed tomography (CT) of the aortic sac (AS) in patients operated on for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with insertion of a coated Dacron prosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 36 consecutive patients operated on for AAA over 2 years and followed longitudinally with CT for up to 10 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had a fluid-filled AS on CT 7-10 days postoperatively. At 6 months, the AS had decreased in most patients, mainly in the antero-posterior diameter, and in two had disappeared completely. In five patients with complications, the AS increased in size. The AS disappeared completely at 10 years' follow-up in 13 patients. When present, a retroperitoneal hematoma always disappeared after 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that the AS after graft implantation will diminish gradually but will persist for at least 6 months. Usually the transverse diameter is bigger than the antero-posterior diameter. If the AS enlarges and becomes rounded and distended with an inhomogeneous interior, it might be a sign of graft infection. In these cases an ultrasound-guided or CT-guided puncture is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gentofte University Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark. mama@gentoftehosp.kbhamt.dk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mantoni
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neergaard
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Christoffersen
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lambine
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baekgaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates