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Surgical repair of ruptured thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms
M E Lewis1, A M Ranasinghe, M P Revell
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK.
Background:
Rupture is the single most common cause of death in patients with thoracic aortic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAA/TAAA) and is almost uniformly fatal.
Methods:
This was a retrospective review of patients admitted to a single practice with rupture of a TAA/TAAA between 1993 and 2000.
Results:
Twenty-two consecutive patients with a leaking TAA/TAAA were identified. The aetiology of rupture was either secondary to a degenerative TAAA or a type B dissection. Seventeen patients underwent surgery; one had a Crawford extent I, seven an extent II, one an extent III and two an extent IV TAAA. Six patients had an acute type B dissection with rupture in the upper descending thoracic aorta. The 30-day survival rate was 88 per cent (15 of 17 patients). Actuarial survival at 1 year in patients who had surgery was 65 per cent. Survival at 1 year for all presenting patients who consented to surgery was 40 per cent. Median survival was greater than 36 months.
Conclusion:
As a result of improving medical care, more patients with a contained rupture of a TAA/TAAA may present for treatment. Surgery is complex and requires specialist teams for optimal care.