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40 - Aorta: Saccular aneurysm

Enlarge Descriptive Card Log Book Entry

Rodin Number: 32
E Number: 125
Donor: Ross and Osler
Date: 1884
Size (H x W cm): 23 x 18

The specimen shows a saccular aneurysm of the thoracic aorta impinging on the bodies of the dorsal vertebrae. The aneurysm is filled with thrombus.

Click on caption to enlarge image.

Comment

Ross presented the case at a meeting of the Montreal Medico-Chirurgical Society on May 9th 1884 (Canada Medical Surgical Journal 1885 XIII: 36-37). Osler was not present, but had performed the autopsy. It consisted of an "adult" man with a history of left chest pain and dyspnea for two years. Heaving pulsation about the xyphoid cartilage was evident. According to the descriptive card, the aneurysm caused "tracheal tugging" and "pressure on the left bronchus"; however, neither of these effects is evident on the specimen. (The log book accession date “1895” is an error).

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