Total occlusion of the abdominal aorta and the severity of angiographically-proven coronary artery disease

Introduction: Total occlusion of the abdominal aorta is unusual, posing diagnostic and therapeutic problems. The outcome of surgery involving the abdominal aorta depends upon the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of CAD in patients with total occlusion of the abdominal aorta. Methods: 74 patients presenting with claudication of both the lower limbs and having bilaterally absent femoral pulsations were subjected to abdominal aortography. Patients who were found to have total occlusion of the abdominal aorta were included in the study. Coronary angiography was done in all the patients. Results: 47 patients were found to have total occlusion of the abdominal aorta. The mean age was 55 years. 37 patients were male and ten were female. All were smokers, 37 were hypertensive and four were diabetic. 11(23.4 percent) patients were found to have CAD. Single vessel disease was present in eight patients, two-vessel disease in two patients and three-vessel disease in one patient. Conclusion: The study shows that approximately one-fourth of the patients with total occlusion of the abdominal aorta had CAD. A majority of these patients had single vessel disease.