MEASUREMENT OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA AFTER INTRAVENOUS AORTOGRAPHY IN HEALTH AND ARTERIOSCLEROTIC PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE

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Abstract
In the first 500 consecutive patients referred for intravenous abdominal aortography, measurements of the abdominal aortic diameter were made at 4 sites: the 11th rib, above and below the renal arteries, and at the bifurcation. Depending on the angiographic findings, the cases were grouped into 4 categories. The 1st group was patients with normal abdominal aortas, the 2nd group had hypertension (above 150/90 mm Hg), the 3rd had atherosclerotic thrombotic occlusive disease while the last had arteriosclerotic aneurysms. All the patients were above middle-age (in the 6th and 7th decades). The average diameter of the abdominal aorta was larger for men than women, 27. 7 [plus or minus] 4. 62 at the 11th rib for men, and 25.6 [plus or minus] 2.85 for women. Above the renal arteries, it was 23. 9 [plus or minus] 3. 92 for men and 21. 6 [plus or minus] 3.16 for women. Below the renal arteries, it was 21.4 [plus or minus] 3.65 for men and 18.7 [plus or minus] 3.36 for women. Finally, at the aortic bifurcation it was 18. 7 [plus or minus] 3. 34 for men and 17. 5 [plus or minus] 2. 52 for women. Hypertension and thrombotic occlusive disease of the abdominal aorta did not alter the mean diameter. In arterio-sclerotic aneurysmal disease, however, there was enlargement of the abdominal aorta at each site suggesting that aortic dilatation was a significant accompaniment of the aneurysm.