Related Experiment Videos
Trends in abdominal aortic aneurysms: a 13 year review
A Nasim1, R D Sayers, M M Thompson
1Department of Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, U.K.
Aim:
To assess changing trends of abdominal aortic aneurysms 1979-1991.
Design:
Retrospective study from the Leicestershire Health Authority.
Results:
727 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated. Of these 56.4% were admitted for elective repair and 43.6% presented with rupture. There was a significant increase in the number of ruptured aortic aneurysms over this period despite an increase in the number of elective repairs. The overall 30-day mortality of elective repair (including patients with symptomatic but non-ruptured aneurysms) was 8.8%. The overall 30-day mortality of ruptured aneurysms (including patients who were deemed medically too unfit for surgery) was 57.7%. There has been no significant change in elective and ruptured mortality over the study period. There was a significant increase in the median age of patients (69.5 yrs in 1979 to 74 yrs in 1991).
Conclusion:
The increasing incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms may reflect better diagnostic methods, greater clinical awareness of the condition and increase in the proportion of elderly people in the population.