Dissecting aneurysm of the descending aorta: a frequently unrecognized condition with overrated fatality

Clinical symptoms are variable and prognosis poor in patients with dissecting aneurysm of the ascending or descending aorta. Dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta is almost always an acute condition with limited survival, since most patients die in the first few days from rupture into the pericardium or thorax. Surgical repair under controlled hypotension should be initiated. Aneurysm of the descending aorta can be an acute complication of hypertension or a more chronic and often unrecognized condition. The early and late prognosis of this group is far better, and hypotensive treatment should be initiated. Secondary re-entry is not unusual. Surgical repair is only considered if the aneurysm extends despite reduction of blood pressure to normal.

Semi-automatic method for routine evaluation of fibrinolytic components

A semi-automatic method for the routine evaluation of fibrinolytic activity is described. The principle is based upon graphic recording by a multichannel voltmeter of tension drops over a potentiometer, caused by variations in the influence of light upon a light-dependent resistance, resulting from modifications in the composition of the fibrin fibres by lysis. The method is applied to the assessment of certain fibrinolytic factors with widespread fibrinolytic endpoints, and the results are compared with simultaneously obtained visual data on the plasmin assay, the plasminogen assay, and on the euglobulin clot lysis time.