ABSTRACT
Degenerative changes in the aorta and atherosclerosis of lower extremity arteries account for the majority of vascular complications in elderly patients (1). Aging of the baby boom population will result in rapid growth of the elderly population. By the year 2040, people older than 65will comprise 22% of the U.S. population, or 67million people. Themost striking aspect of this trend is the increased rate of survival of those older than 75 (2). Obviously, the management of atherosclerotic complications of the aorta and its branches will play an increasingly significant role in the primary health care of a major portion of the adult American population.
