Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm treated with open surgical repair (OSR) of a patient with active COVID-19...

Patients continued to present vascular emergencies during the most severe phase of the COVID-19 outbreak. An abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture was considered the most life-threatening condition.

To report a case report of a patient with active COVID-19 infection presenting as a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm and treated with open surgical repair at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Jordanian Medical Services (JRMS), Amman, Jordan.

A 69-year-old male presented with an active COVID-19 pneumonic chest infection. Abdominal CT of angiography showed a 4.8-cm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm unsuitable for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). After a rapid deterioration in his general condition, he underwent an exploratory laparotomy which revealed the diagnosis of an AAA rupture. We managed his condition operatively with repair using a tube Dacron graft.

Ruptured AAA is considered a devastating lethal vascular emergency with high mortality and morbidity rates and needs emergency intervention n eligible patients. COVID-19 patients with AAA rupture have a significantly increased risk of intervention and require special attention regarding the type of intervention and anaesthesia. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many guidelines in management vascular emergencies, among them AAA rupture patients. The National Societies guidelines recommended limiting interventions to emergencies only.

The difficulties of surgical intervention, anaesthesia and the appropriate intervention selection increase the burden on the medical staff resisting the obstacles imposed on them by COVID-19 infection.