Elective open operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm in octogenarians--survival analysis of 105 patients

To study early mortality and long-term survival of patients more than 80 years of age having elective open repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Retrospective multicenter cohort study.

One hundred and five patients, 23 women and 82 men, with a median age of 82 years, operated at three Norwegian hospitals during the period 1983-2002.

Survival analyses were based on data from medical records and the Norwegian Registrar's Office of Births and Deaths. Expected survival was based on mortality rates of the general population, matched by age, sex, and calendar period. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio between the observed and the expected survival.

During the study period there has been a 10 fold increase in octogenarians treated with open operation for AAA. Early mortality (30-day) for the whole group of patients was 10.5% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 5.3-18.0), and similar for both genders. The 5-year survival rate was 47% (95% CI 35.9-57.4), and not significantly different from that of a matched group in the general population. Patients aged 84 years or more had a median survival time of 35 months (95% CI 18.5-51.6).

The number of AAA operations in octogenarians has increased considerably during 20 years. Octogenarians operated electively for AAA has higher 30-day mortality as compared to younger patients. Their long-term survival appears similar to a matched control group. The benefit of surgery must be carefully considered against the perioperative risk, especially for the oldest octogenarians.