[Results and complications of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair]

During 1993 to 2000 85 patients were treated for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The average age of the patients was 72.4 years (46-90). 71 patients showed an infrarenal rupture and the remaining 14 a suprenal rupture. 76 of 85 cases were covered ruptures. All patients were operated upon. A tube graft was required in 43 cases and 31 needed a bifurcated graft. In further two cases an extraanatomical bypass was necessary due to a mycotic aneurysm. The operation on 11 patients could not be completed and 21 patients died in hospital during the postoperative period. On the other hand, 53 patients survived the rupture of the aneurysm. The mortality rate was 37.6 %. The early non-surgical complications dominated during the postoperative period. Respiratory failure, renal failure and cardiac failure were responsible for the mortality rate. It is unforseeable which patients will survive the emergency operation. Therefore it is always appropriate to attempt the reconstruction of an acutely ruptured AAA.