The morphology of ascending aortic aneurysms.

To determine the frequency of morphologic abnormalities of the aorta, especially of the media, in patients with aneurysms of the ascending aorta, tissue specimens from surgically resected ascending aortic aneurysms of 339 patients were studied. Included were 232 men and 107 women; 53 (29 men, 23 women) had clinical signs of Marfan's disease. Features evaluated and graded included fragmentation of elastic fibers, cystic medial change, medial fibrosis, medial necrosis, atherosclerosis, periaortic fibrosis, and thickening of the vasa vasorum.

RETROESOPHAGEAL SUBCLAVIAN ARTERIES: SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF SYMPTOMATIC CHILDREN.

Aberrant subclavian arteries, which form a type of vascular ring, elicit symptoms of dysphagia and chronic respiratory problems. Simple division of the encircling vessel has been the accepted treatment but has frequently led to various long-term complications. These include ischemia of the arm, which in turn results in claudication and the subclavian-vertebral "steal syndrome.