Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair combined with a second surgical procedure--morbidity and mortality

Some patients who undergo repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm require a concomitant procedure. This study compares the morbidity and mortality rates of patients who undergo combined procedures with those who undergo aneurysmorrhaphy alone. Five hundred sixty-three elective aneurysmorrhaphies were performed in the years 1971, 1976, and 1980. Three hundred thirty-five individuals underwent aneurysm repair alone (group I), while 115 underwent at least one additional vascular procedure (group II), and 113 underwent one or more nonvascular procedures (group III) concomitant with aneurysmorrhaphy. Mortality rates for the three groups were 2.6%, 3.5%, and 6.0%. Morbidity rates were 12.8%, 26.1%, and 18.5%. The differences in rates do not achieve statistical significance, but causes of death and complications varied slightly in each group. Deaths in group I were largely due to myocardial infarction, while deaths in groups II and III were largely due to complications of operation or underlying disease. Patients who required concomitant renal artery revascularizations had the greatest number of serious complications in group II. Patients with concomitant cholecystectomy appeared to have an increase in serious complications, but concomitant herniorrhaphy or lumber sympathectomy appeared to be free of any additional morbidity.