Early outcomes of patients transferred with ruptured suprarenal aneurysm or dissection

Objective Despite centralisation of the provision of vascular care, not all areas in England and Wales are able to offer emergency treatment for patients with acute conditions affecting the aorta proximal to the renal arteries. While cardiothoracic centres have made network arrangements to coordinate care for the repair of type A dissections, a similar plan for vascular care is lacking. This study investigates early outcomes in patients with ruptured suprarenal aortic aneurysm or dissection (rSRAD) transferred to a specialist centre. Methods Retrospective observational study over a five-year period (2009-2014) assessing outcomes of patients with ruptured sRAD diagnosed at their local hospital and then transferred to a tertiary centre capable of offering such treatment. Results Fifty-two patients (median age 73 years, 32 male) with rSRAD were transferred and a further four died during transit. The mean distance of patient transfer was 35 miles (range 4-211 miles). One patient did not undergo intervention due to frailty and two died before reaching the operating theatre. A total of 23 patients underwent endovascular repair, 9 hybrid repair and 17 open surgery. Median follow-up was 12 months (range 1-43 months). Complications included paraplegia (n = 3), stroke (n = 2), type IA endoleak (n = 4); 30-day and in-hospital mortality were 16% and 27%. For patients discharged alive from hospital, one-year survival was 67%. Conclusions Although the number of patients with rSRAD is low and those who are transferred alive are a self-selecting group, this study suggests that transfer of such patients to a specialist vascular centre is associated with acceptable mortality rates following emergency complex aortic repair.