ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSM AND LOWER-LIMB OCCLUSIVE ARTERIAL-DISEASE

Background. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are associated with lower -limb occlusive arterial disease (LLOAD) in 20-40% of patients. Retros pective analysis of 200 elective AAA repairs and comparison with liter ature data revealed that LLOAD has little influence on standard therap eutic management of AAA. Methods. In this study, only 2.5% of the pati ents required femoropopliteal bypass along with aneurysm repair. Ln co ntrast, aneurysm repair was associated with lumbar sympathectomy in 30 % of cases owing to existence of peripheral arterial disease. Results. Concurrent LLOAD did not significantly increase the operative mortali ty of AAA, but postoperative peripheral arterial complications were mo re frequent in patients with both aneurysmal and occlusive disease. Co nclusions. Although concomitant LLOAD did not adversely affect the lon g-term survival of patients who underwent surgical repair of AAA, this subgroup of patients was at higher risk of aggravation of their lower extremity arterial lesions.