[Pathophysiology and clinical aspects of dissecting aortic aneurysms]

Dissecting aneurysms of the aorta are among the most dangerous acute conditions in medicine. Their incidence is rising in recent years. The pathogenesis of vascular aneurysms is not completely clear. In the submitted paper the authors discuss the most important factors (atherosclerosis, hereditary, metabolic, mechanical, haemodynamic, nutritional) responsible for the development and growth of an aneurysm as well as for the progressing dissection. The authors compare the most important diagnostic methods from the aspect of sensitivity and specificity. In the conclusion they give a brief account of dissecting aneurysms at the IVth Medical Clinic University Hospital Kosice during the period from 1989 to November 1994.