Observations on aneurism of the abdominal aorta / [Alexander Monro].

  • Monro, Alexander, 1773-1859.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on aneurism of the abdominal aorta / [Alexander Monro]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    or by the use of the foxglove; and, it may be remarked, that even when the disease is seated in the arch of the aorta, into which the blood is driven with great force from the left ventricle of the heart, the aneurism is in part filled, in some instances, by layers of coagulable lymph. I have had occasion to meet with two such instances, in which very large aneurisms of the aorta were partially filled up by layers of coagulable lymph. In the first of these, a part of the breast-bone, and a part of three of the upper ribs, had been absorbed. The tumour protruded externally, and measured fifteen inches in circumfe¬ rence, and at first it pulsated uniformly over its whole surface. The pulsation, however, became gradually less distinct, and at length ceased. The patient died in the course of eighteen months, from phthisis pulmonalis, and upon dissection I found the greater part of the aneurism filled by layers of lymph. In the other case, the aneurismal tumour was as large as a child’s head. This patient laboured under excessive difficulty in breathing, his face, and the point of his nose, became much swollen, so that he resembled a monkey. This symptom, ac¬ cording to Aretaeus, strongly marks the difficulty with which the blood passes through the lungs. His difficulty of breathing increased to a most distressing ex¬ tent before death. Upon dissection, eight pounds of water were found within the chest, and there was a very large tumour con¬ nected with the arch of the aorta, which was completely filled by layers of coagulable lymph. Neither of the above patients died from a rupture of the arch of the aorta. The large aneurism, by pressing upon and irritating the lungs, occasioned phthisis, and in the latter, by preventing the free flow of blood through the lungs, had occasioned an effusion of water within the chest, which proved the more immediate cause of death. But, in the instance of obstructed aorta, a complete plug of coagulable lymph was formed within the abdominal aorta, though the pa¬ tient walked about, and had not been restricted to very low diet before death.