Rupture of surgically thrombosed abdominal aortic aneurysm

A case of late rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm that had been successfully treated by surgically induced thrombosis is presented. After emergency surgery consisting of ligation of the neck of the aneurysm, the patient survived and is doing well. The literature on surgically induced thrombosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm is reviewed. It is stressed that complete thrombosis of aortic aneurysm induced by distal ligation does not preclude rupture, and if patients present with symptoms of expansion or rupture, they should undergo emergency surgery.