Lethal complications associated with nonrestrictive treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Five high-risk patients received nonresective treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This treatment included ligation of the iliac arteries to induce acute thrombosis of AAA and a simultaneous axillobifemoral bypass for restoration of arterial flow to the lower extremities. Of these five patients, lethal complications associated with this procedure developed in four. The complications included rupture, infection of the thrombotic aortic aneurysm, visceral ischemia, and consumptive coagulopathy. This high incidence of lethal complications and the unacceptably high patient mortality in these five patients indicates extreme precaution in the application of nonresective treatment for AAA.