In order to assess the prevalence of carotid artery disease in patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) or aortic aneurysm, 142 patients underwent screening for the presence of carotid atherosclerosis (plaque) with B-mode ultrasonography. Seventy-four (87.1%) of the 85 patients with ASO and 37 (64.9%) of the 57 patients with aortic aneurysm had carotid artery lesions. Of these patients, about half had bilateral lesions. The differences in the prevalence of carotid lesions were not significantly related to age or sex. Prevalence did not differ in relation to the severity or location of the primary lesions. The majority of the carotid lesions were located in the internal carotid arteries. The prevalence of carotid lesions was higher among patients with cerebral infarction than in those without any lesions on computed tomography. These results showing high prevalence of carotid lesions in ASO and aortic aneurysm suggest the usefulness of routine carotid ultrasonographic screening and also that it is important in order to determine the correct treatment for these cases.

A 60-year-old woman with acute Stanford type A dissecting aneurysm underwent Dacron graft replacement of the total aortic arch combined with the modified elephant trunk technique. Follow-up CT and angiogram demonstrated blood flow into the false lumen from the distal anastomosis. In order to interrupt the blood flow, endovascular stent grafting was undertaken. She recovered uneventfully, and was discharged on the 14th postoperative day. Follow-up CT taken in the third postoperative month demonstrated exclusion of the blood flow into the false lumen of descending thoracic aorta. Aortic arch replacement followed by endovascular stent grafting of the descending thoracic component is a potential therapeutic option in patients with dissecting aneurysm.

A 71-year-old woman was admitted with sudden onset of abdominal pain. CT scan image and symptoms showed an impending ruptured suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm therefore we performed an emergency operation. The abdominal aorta was replaced with a trunk prosthetic graft with four branches for visceral and lumbar arteries. The post-operative course was uneventful. Pathological examination showed that the aorta had severe atherosclerotic changes. The fibrous tissues increased in the aneurysmal wall which was not consistent with the normal aorta. Intima and media of the aorta everted into the aneurysm. These findings suggested that aneurysm was caused by a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer.