History of aneurysms

Abstract

Conclusion and Summary Aneurysms were recognized in very early times, and were mainly those seen on superficial inspection of the body. They were mainly traumatic in origin, presumably due to the frequent use of venesection, and to a lesser extent the warfaring habits of the people of those days. The ancients realizing the traumatic origin of the pulsatile swellings, applied this knowledge to the saccular dilatations occurring without a history of trauma. They consequently believed that all aneurysms were ultimately of the same origin, namely an abrupt interruption of all or part of the vessel wall. This theory of rupture of the coats persisted for a considerable time because they could not understand the difference in the composition of the wall of the parent artery and that of its diverticulum. Periodically the theory was denied, and eventually established as false. The author feels that a somewhat similar state of affairs exists in the case of cerebral aneurysms today. Here too there has been difficulty in understanding the transition from normal vessel wall to the aneurysmal wall; and numerous theories have been put forward, but as yet the true aetiology has not been explained to the satisfaction of all. © 1958, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.