[Surgery of complicated aneurysms of the abdominal aorta]

Results of the surgical treatment of 107 patients with a complicated aneurysm of the abdominal aorta are presented. The general lethality for the period from 1966 to 1984 was 49,5%. In the recent years the postoperative lethality in patients with ruptured aneurysms has been reduced from 79,4% to 47,2%, in patients with threatening ruptures from 41,6% to 16%. The positive changes were due to a number of factors: less amount of prehospital diagnostic errors; earlier admission to the hospital, better urgent diagnosis of the abnormality by up-to-date non-invasive methods of examination (ultrasonic scanning, computer tomography, radionuclide angiography); using balloon catheters obturating the aorta above the ruptured aneurysm for temporary preoperative arrest of bleeding; selection of a less traumatic method of operation of the aneurysm resection without dissection of the aorta with intra-aortal prosthesis specific under conditions of the HBO-operating room; better resuscitation and anesthesiologic aid for this critical category of patients.