PURPOSE: Coronary artery disease (CAD) shares several risk factors with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We evaluated the prevalence during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and risk factors of AAA in patients with CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1300 CAD patients were screened from August 2009 to May 2010, and measurement of abdominal aorta size was feasible in 920 patients (71%) at the end of routine TTE. An AAA was defined as having a maximal diameter of > or =30 mm. RESULTS: Of the 920 patients, 22 (2.4% of the study population) were diagnosed with AAA; of these AAA patients, 86% were male, and 82% were over 65 years-old. Abdominal aortic size was weakly correlated with aortic root diameter (r=0.22, p<0.01). Although the proportions of male gender, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were higher in AAA patients, such differences were not statistically significant. Advanced age [odds ratio (OR)=1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.12; p<0.01], smoking (OR=3.44; 95% CI: 1.18-10.04; p=0.02), and peripheral arterial disease (OR=5.88; 95% CI: 1.38-25.05; p=0.01) were found to be associated with AAA. CONCLUSION: Although prevalence of AAA is very low in the Asian population, the prevalence of AAA in Asian CAD patients is higher than the general population. Therefore, opportunistic examination of the abdominal aorta during routine TTE could be effective, especially for male CAD patients over 65 years with a history of smoking or peripheral arterial disease.
Aged ; Aorta, Abdominal/ultrasonography ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/*complications/epidemiology/*ultrasonography ; Coronary Artery Disease/*complications/epidemiology/*ultrasonography ; Demography ; *Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Incomplete fixation of pancreas, which may be associated with a wide mobility of root of SMA, result in chronic midgut volvulus. Movable pancreas is an uncommon form of incomplete intestnal fixation and rotation. Herein, we present a caae of movable pancreas. A patient was a 32-year-old male with the complaint of colicky intermittent abdomnal pain. The abdominal ultrasonography and CT showed a movable pancreas. The head of pancreas was located in the left of the abdominal aorta during the inspiratory time and left decubitus position. At surgery, pancreas was mobile and the root of mesentery was very weak and fibrotic. Duodenum and mesentery were fixed by 0.7 mm Dacron patch along the right peritoneal gutter and the retroperitoneum from ligament of Treitz to the ileocecal attachment. Duodenojejunostomy was performed for the prevention of SMA syndrome. The symptoms disappeared and recovery was prompt. Following the procedure, the patient remains asymptomatic until 10 months after operation
Adult ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Duodenum ; Head ; Humans ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Ligaments ; Male ; Mesentery ; Pancreas* ; Polyethylene Terephthalates ; Ultrasonography

Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is a syndrome caused by compression of the left renal vein (LRV), between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, resulting in hypertension of the LRV and hematuria. Doppler ultrasonography (US) has been commonly used for the diagnosis of NCS. However, several technical issues, such as Doppler angle and sample volume, need to be considered to obtain satisfactory results. In addition, morphologic changes of the LRV and a jetting phenomenon across the aortomesenteric portion of the LRV on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) are diagnostic clues of NCS. With proper Doppler US and CECT, NCS can be diagnosed noninvasively.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Diagnosis ; Hematuria ; Hypertension ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Renal Veins ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

An abdominal aorta with a maximal diameter of > 3.0 cm is considered aneurysmal. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) most often affects the segment of aorta between the renal arteries. Patients with aneurysms under observation should undergo periodic imaging to assess for aortic expansion, but the optimal surveillance schedule has not been defined clearly. Generally, surveillance is every 6 to 12 months by ultrasound or computed tomography for medium-sized aneurysms (4.0 to 5.4 cm in diameter), but less frequent intervals (every 2 to 3 years) are recommended for smaller aneurysms. The primary goals of aneurysm repair are to prevent rupture while minimizing morbidity and mortality associated with repair. Two methods of aneurysm repair are currently available: traditional open surgery and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). In randomized trials, EVAR is associated with lower perioperative morbidity and mortality compared with open AAA repair but does not completely eliminate the future risk of AAA rupture, whereas open repair is associated with higher perioperative morbidity and mortality than EVAR but provides a more definitive repair. Physicians must choose an individualized approach for AAA repair, taking into account the patient's age, aortic anatomy, life expectancy, and risk factors for perioperative morbidity and mortality.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Mortality ; Renal Artery ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography

A 17-yr-old young woman was referred to our hospital with a 2-yr history of claudication of the lower extremities and severe arterial hypertension. Physical examination revealed significantly different blood pressures between both arms (160/92 and 180/95 mmHg) and legs (92/61 and 82/57 mmHg). The hematological and biochemical values were within their normal ranges, except for the increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (83 mm/hr) and C-reactive protein (6.19 mg/L). On 3- dimensional computed tomographic angiography, the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and its branches, and the thoracic and, descending aorta, but not the renal artery, were shown to be stenotic. The diagnosis of type IIb Takayasu's arteritis was made according to the new angiographic classification of Takayasu's arteritis, Takyasu conference 1994. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting was performed on the thoracic and abdominal aorta. After the interventional procedures, the upper extremity blood pressure improved from 162/101 mmHg to 132/85 mmHg, respectively. She has been free of claudication and there have been no cardiac events during 2-yr of clinical follow-up.
Adolescent ; Angiography ; *Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aorta, Abdominal/radiography ; *Aorta, Thoracic/radiography ; Carotid Arteries/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; *Stents ; Takayasu Arteritis/radiography/*therapy/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 56-year old female underwent total aortic arch replacement March 1995, because of an expanding chronic Debakey type I aortic dissection. This aortic dissection had an intimal tear at the origin of the right carotid artery. Retrograde and antegrade propagation of dissection resulted in aortic arch blood flow separation and expanding pseudolumen to the abdominal aorta. Sudden anuria (ARF) developed 3 hours later postoperatively and renal doppler ultrasonography and aortography showed diminished blood flow of renal arteries. We performed balloon aortic dilatation but failed. She could be restored good renal flow after intimal flap fenestration resection and thrombectomy of the abdominal aorta. This patient could be discharged in a state of mild CRF after 2 months of ICU care for respiratory and renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Anuria ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortography ; Carotid Arteries ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thrombectomy ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

A 52-year-old man presented as an intermittent right flank pain and microscopic hematuria on urinalysis. Abdominal ultrasonography showed that the left kidney was normally positioned but the right kidney was not observed in the normal position. The ectopic kidney was 7 cm sized and its pelvis was rotated anteriorly. To further evaluate the urinary system, angiography with urography by computed tomography (CT) was carried out. The ectopic kidney was received blood supply from two arteries which directly arose from the abdominal aorta. There was no detectable abnormality on distal urinary system. The authors report here a rare adult case of ectopic kidney associated with rotation anomaly and aberrant arterial supply presenting as an intermittent flank pain and microscopic hematuira.
Adult* ; Angiography ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Arteries ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; Renal Artery ; Ultrasonography ; Urinalysis ; Urography

PURPOSE: Left renal vein entrapment syndrome has been suggested as an etiology for asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria since it was reported as a cause of unilateral gross hematuria. Reported diagnostic criteria has been controversial since various degrees of left renal vein entrapment was found in normal children. Some of asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria was not diagnosed even with renal biopsies but was usually known to have self-limited benign course. We analyzed the relationship between asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria of unknown origin and the degree of left renal vein entrapment phenomenon. METHODS: The renal doppler sonograpy of 92 children with asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria [gross hematuria(GH) N=44, microscopic hematuria (MH) N=48] were compared to 30 control children with normal renal function and urinalysis who underwent renal doppler sonography for abdominal pain and enuresis from January, 1999 to Febrary, 2000 at Ewha Womans Mokdong Hospital. The narrowed diameter(ND) of the left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery and its maximal velocity(NV), and the dilated diameter(DD) of the left renal vein and its maximal velocity(DV) were measured and the DD/ND and NV/DV ratio were compared with those of the control children and the results of several previous reports. RESULTS: The DD/ND ratio was 3.9+/-1.89 in the GH group, 2.4+/-0.62 in the MH group, and 2.0+/-0.48 in the control group. There was a significant difference among GH, MH and control group(p<0.05). The NV/DV ratio was 3.6+/-2.37 in the GH group was significantly higher than 1.9+/-0.60 in the MH group and 1.7+/-0.55 in the control group(p<0.05). There was no significant differences between MH and control groups. Normal cut off values of DD/ND and NV/DV ratio in this study were 3.0 and 2.8 which was different to previous reports. CONCLUSION: Left renal vein entrapment phenomenon should be considered as one of the etiology of asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria in children and the sonographic diagnostic criteria for Left renal vein entrapment syndrome needs to be revised.
Abdominal Pain ; Aorta ; Biopsy ; Child* ; Enuresis ; Female ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Renal Nutcracker Syndrome ; Renal Veins* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinalysis

PURPOSE: Left renal vein entrapment syndrome has been suggested as an etiology for asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria since it was reported as a cause of unilateral gross hematuria. Reported diagnostic criteria has been controversial since various degrees of left renal vein entrapment was found in normal children. Some of asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria was not diagnosed even with renal biopsies but was usually known to have self-limited benign course. We analyzed the relationship between asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria of unknown origin and the degree of left renal vein entrapment phenomenon. METHODS: The renal doppler sonograpy of 92 children with asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria [gross hematuria(GH) N=44, microscopic hematuria (MH) N=48] were compared to 30 control children with normal renal function and urinalysis who underwent renal doppler sonography for abdominal pain and enuresis from January, 1999 to Febrary, 2000 at Ewha Womans Mokdong Hospital. The narrowed diameter(ND) of the left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery and its maximal velocity(NV), and the dilated diameter(DD) of the left renal vein and its maximal velocity(DV) were measured and the DD/ND and NV/DV ratio were compared with those of the control children and the results of several previous reports. RESULTS: The DD/ND ratio was 3.9+/-1.89 in the GH group, 2.4+/-0.62 in the MH group, and 2.0+/-0.48 in the control group. There was a significant difference among GH, MH and control group(p<0.05). The NV/DV ratio was 3.6+/-2.37 in the GH group was significantly higher than 1.9+/-0.60 in the MH group and 1.7+/-0.55 in the control group(p<0.05). There was no significant differences between MH and control groups. Normal cut off values of DD/ND and NV/DV ratio in this study were 3.0 and 2.8 which was different to previous reports. CONCLUSION: Left renal vein entrapment phenomenon should be considered as one of the etiology of asymptomatic non-glomerular hematuria in children and the sonographic diagnostic criteria for Left renal vein entrapment syndrome needs to be revised.
Abdominal Pain ; Aorta ; Biopsy ; Child* ; Enuresis ; Female ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Renal Nutcracker Syndrome ; Renal Veins* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinalysis

Aorta, Abdominal ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Ultrasonography ; methods