The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 48, 137-138, Copyright © 1989 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Evolution of surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms
DA Cooley
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Texas Heart Institute, Houston.
Aneurysms of the thoracic aorta remain a challenge to surgeons. My early
experience began in 1950, when I excised a large aneurysm in one of Dr
Alfred Blalock's patients. The patient survived and was cured. This
experience convinced me that aortic aneurysms could be treated successfully
by aggressive surgical means. Treatment, however, has changed from the
early emphasis on excision of the lesion to the present belief in
restoration of circulatory continuity using a suitable Dacron graft, or
endoaneurysmorrhaphy.