XXXX of the descending thoracic aorta (19 cases).

@entity1 @entity2759 @entity439 @entity764 @entity397 @entity451 @entity130
From 1973 through 1983, 19 cases of chronic @entity439 (CTA) were observed. Initial @entity130 was well documented in every case. @entity1 mean age at time of @entity130 was 22; mean age at time of surgery was 34. Sixty per cent of @entity1 had no apparent @entity764 at time of @entity130 . Ninety-five per cent had associated injuries. Ten/nineteen were asymptomatic. Eighteen were operated on. @entity397 was complete in 11, partial in 7. One of the partial @entity397 was a simple scar on the aorta. Eighteen were located at the site of the aortic isthmus, one was at level T8-T9. Seventeen had a prosthetic dacron graft sutured from inside the @entity439 . The case where a simple scar was found had a dacron wrapping. Spinal cord protection was used in all cases except in one who was already paraplegic preoperatively. Various shunts were used in 12 cases; 1 @entity1 in the by-pass group had @entity451 . CTA is not a benign disease and all cases, even asymptomatic, should be operated on with a very low risk of mortality (0/18). Occurrence of @entity451 still remains a possible complication although the risk of @entity2759 seems lower than in arteriosclerotic dissecting @entity439 . We favour the "old" technique of temporary dacron shunt graft in CTA for simplicity and easy assessment of function ot the shunt.
