Primary bacterial aortitis represents a rare disease with a high lethality.
From June 1997 to April 1999 5 patients with an abdominal aortic infection
were treated by resection of the infected aorta and in-situ reconstruction
or by extraanatomic bypass. There was no treatment in one case because of
the infaust prognosis. 3 patients survived, one with a para paresis as a re
sult of spinal ischemia. On the basis of our patients the pathogenesis, cli
nical symptoms with diagnosis and the therapeutic options are discussed.