Abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm diagnosed 42 years after abdominal gunshot wound

Abstract

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta is a life threatening and a rare condition in aortic injuries. Most lesions are caused by a penetrating injury and may not be detected during the first evaluation. The time interval from initial trauma to appearance of clinical signs and symptoms may range from a few days to many years, and there are only a few reports of delayed presentation. We describe the case of a 59-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain 42 years after an abdominal gunshot injury. A traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the infrarenal abdominal aorta was diagnosed. Resection of the pseudoaneurysm and a Dacron graft interposition were the treatment, and there were no postoperative complications. The time interval from injury to diagnosis of the traumatic abdominal aorta pseudoaneurysm is the longest found in the literature.