[Incidence, risk and operability of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the elderly patient]

The risks of operative treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm are considerably smaller in elective circumstances than after rupture of the aneurysm. The risk of a ruptured aneurysm is higher than the indicated percentage in the literature, because this only reflects the operative mortality. Possibly almost 65% of the patients with a rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm die at home or during transport to the hospital. In the absence of valid contra-indications to surgery, elective operative treatment should be considered, also in the elderly patient.