[The small aorta syndrome]

Angiograms of 956 patients (94.7% of males and females) with aortoiliac occlusive disease were analyzed retrospectively. The existence of small aorta syndrome (SAS) was documented in 9 female patients with a mean age of 41.1 yrs. In this population the incidence was 0.9%; however, in the female patients the incidence was higher (18%). Clinical signs of arterial insufficiency of the lower limbs included: claudication in 8 pts and digital gangrene in 1 patient. Risk factor status was as follows: cigarette smoking was present in 100%, hypertension in 33%, obesitas in 25% and hyperlipidemia in 20% of cases. Dimensions of aortoiliac segments on angiograms and belongs to SAS were made by De Laurentis classification. Aortoiliac segment dimensions of SAS determined on angiograms were compared with operative findings. The mean cross sectional area of the infrarenal aorta was 14.1 mm, at the bifurcation 10 mm, common iliac artery 8 mm, and external iliac artery 4.3 mm. Of 9 female patients with small aorta syndrome 8 were operated by bypass technique. The mean follow-up time was 12.3 months. In 7 pts the reconstructive vascular procedure was successful. In one patient the graft became occluded, 3 month after operation, due to poor run-off. This necessitated limb amputation.