A 57-year-old man suffered hemoptysis during an examination for gastric carcinoma. Enhanced computed tomography demonstrated rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm to the left pulmonary lower lobe. The lateral segment of the liver was atrophic due to intrahepatic cholelithiasis. Emergency operation was performed after he was transferred to our hospital. The thoracic aorta was reconstructed using a temporary bypass and the pulmonary left lower lobe was resected. The omentum was mobilized and used to cover the prosthesis and bronchial stump. The gastric carcinoma and intrahepatic cholelithiasis with biliary stones in the common bile duct were treated in the next procedure. The pathologic examination revealed lymph node metastasis; thus this operation was recognized to be absolutely noncurative. The treatment of cardiovascular disease concomitant with malignancy remains controversial. The strategy to treat such patients is discussed in this report.

Celiac artery aneurysm (CAA) is very rare. We report a case of CAA with type IIIb aortic dissection (DA) which was treated surgically. A 60-year-old man who had an abnormal enlargement of the aorta on abdominal ultrasonography was admitted to our hospital. Angiography and CT scan revealed CAA with type IIIb DA. His general condition was stable and surgery was performed electively. The CAA was exposed through a median laparotomy. It was found to be about 3cm in diameter. As vascular reconstruction seemed difficult and the proper hepatic artery showed good pulsation after clamping the common hepatic artery, we decided to perform celiac artery aneurysmectomy without vascular reconstruction. Except for transient liver dysfunction, there was no other complication and he was discharged on the 24th postoperative day. During surgery for CAA, when collateral perfusion from the SMA to the liver is adequate, it seems that vascular reconstruction is not always necessary as shown by this case.

A 52-year-old man presented with a pulsatile mass in the right groin. He had undergone lumbar sympathectomy and aorto-right femoral artery bypass using an 8mm Microvel double velour graft, 14 years previously, for aortoiliac occlusive disease caused by thromboangiitis obliterans. Based on a clinical diagnosis of an anastomotic aneurysm, an operation was performed. When the aneurysm was incised, it was found that the anastomosis of the graft to the femoral artery was intact and that the graft itself had a defect, 3cm in size on the anterior wall, 1.5cm proximal to the distal anastomosis. The final diagnosis was a nonanastomotic false aneurysm due to prosthetic graft failure. The failed portion of the graft was resected, and a 10mm Hemashield Gold woven double velour graft was interposed between the old graft and the right femoral artery. Generally, arterial grafts below the groin are subject to high levels of mechanical stress, and graft failure is not uncommon. Vascular surgeons should keep in mind that graft failure is not rare in patients with long-standing prosthetic grafts.