Abdominal aortic aneurysms: Rotorua 1972-1982

The experience of abdominal aortic aneurysms in Rotorua Hospital from 1972 to 1982 is analysed. During this time sixteen abdominal aortic aneurysms were resected. Thirteen were acute operations for leaking aneurysms and three were elective operations. Among the thirteen acute cases, preoperatively four were in shock and three of these died. There was one peri-operative death among the nine unshocked but acute aneurysms.