[Symptomatic aneurysms of the abdominal aorta]

In the years 1981-1985 21 patients were operated upon for symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms. Atypical symptoms such as acute pancreatitis, weight loss, blood in the stool or urine, incorrect interpretation of abdominal pain and physical examination findings caused erroneous initial diagnosis and delay in referring the patient to surgical treatment in nine cases. Long history prior to admission was noted even in patients with ruptured aneurysms; mortality in these patients was high, 66%. Best results were achieved with aneurysm resection; indirect aneurysm occlusion in combination with axillofemoral bypass attempted in two patients was not successful.