Peripheral arteriosclerosis; arterial grafting procedures; indications and results. I. Arteriosclerotic aneurysms.

In 32 cases aneurysms of the aorta and peripheral arteries were resected and replaced by grafts. The results from the use of homografts in 18 cases were more satisfactory than with the use of Ivalon in 14 cases. The abdominal aorta was the most frequent location of aneurysms. The current mortality rate of 5.5 per cent for resection of unruptured abdominal aneurysms indicates that resection and grafting are an effective means of reducing the high mortality of untreated aneurysms. Five ruptured aneurysms were excised, with a mortality rate of 40 per cent. The uniformly fatal outcome of untreated ruptured abdominal aneurysms makes it obligatory for the surgeon to operate immediately after the diagnosis is first made.