Early management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: a practical guide

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a permanent localized dilatation which most commonly affects the infrarenal segment of the abdominal aorta. Rupture, the most common and most fatal complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm, is an acute vascular emergency that requires an immediate life-saving operation which has a high mortality rate. Approximately 30-50% of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm die before they reach the hospital, and 30-40% of those who reach the hospital alive die without surgical intervention (Bengtsson and Bergqvist, 1993). With an average mortality rate of 45% among patients who undergo emergency repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, the overall mortality rate is estimated at 80-90%.