Inflammatory XXXX of the aorta.

@entity1 @entity1695 @entity615 @entity439 @entity397 @entity1756
This report concerns 30 @entity1 with the acute form of " @entity439 " of the aorta treated during a 27-year period between April 1957 and March 1984. There were 28 @entity1 and two @entity1 whose ages ranged from 46 to 78 years (most over 60 years). All were heavy smokers. The @entity439 was located below the renal arteries and the inflammatory changes were limited to the abdomen in 24 @entity1 ; one @entity1 had a @entity1756 . The @entity439 involved the entire abdominal aorta in one, the descending thoracic and infrarenal abdominal aorta in two, and the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta in continuity in three @entity1 . The inflammatory changes occurred grossly and microscopically in both abdominal and thoracic aortic segments in five of the latter six @entity1 . The changes were manifested by anterior and lateral mural inflammatory thickening contiguous with similar changes of the retroperitoneum and mediastinum that produced varying degrees of @entity1695 in seven @entity1 . Most had @entity615 and abdominal tenderness, suggesting @entity397 . Emergency exploratory operation had been performed elsewhere in 10 @entity1 . Operation was abandoned because of exposure difficulties, bowel perforation, or visceral arterial involvement. Diagnosis was suggested by CT scan in 10, ultrasonography in one, and excretory urograms in seven @entity1 . Treatment consisted of thoracoabdominal aortic replacement in six and infrarenal aortic replacement in 24. The aorta was clamped at the diaphragm in most of the latter cases to avoid injury to adjacent structures. Nephrectomy or ureterolysis was rarely necessary. Of these 30 @entity1 , 29 were early (30 day) survivors and @entity1695 spontaneously subsided in most cases without special treatment. There was one late death at 2 months and eight deaths from 3 to 13 years; 20 (67%) @entity1 are still alive.
