Unsuspected abdominal aortic aneurysms as the cause of peripheral arterial occlusive disease

One of the principle threats of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is embolization to the lower extremities. This occurred preoperatively in 39 of 133 patients subjected to resection of an aortic aneurysm during the period of June 1, 1968 through May 31, 1972. All patients with arterial occlusive disease of the lower extremities should have complete aorto peripheral angiographic study. When an unsuspected abdominal aortic aneurysm is detected under these circumstances, it should be resected and either embolectomy performed simultaneously or a peripheral bypass carried out subsequently. One of the causes of early and late failures of peripheral vein graft bypasses is an embolus arising from an unsuspected abdominal aortic aneurysm. The potential hazards of peripheral arterial embolization from an abdominal aortic aneurysm combined with the known high mortality rate following rupture justify the view that all asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms should be resected in good risk patients.