ABSTRACT
Introduction Aortic aneurysms are common degenerative conditions that affect mainly elderly people. They are three times more frequently found in men than women.1 The overall mortality rate from aneurysm rupture is of the order of 65-85% in the abdominal aorta and even higher in the thoracic aorta.2 Of the deaths attributed to ruptured aneurysms, about half occurred before the patient reached hospital3 and, for those who survived the initial period, the mortality rate from emergency open surgical treatment is between 30% and 70%.2,3
Late aneurysm formation has been reported after surgical repair of aortic coarctation in young people, with rupture of such aneurysms being responsible for approximately 7% of all deaths. Secondary surgical repair in these patients carries a significant mortality and morbidity.4
