Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. A ten year experience

During the last ten years, 84 patients treated for ruptured infrarenal aortic aneurysm have been reviewed to evaluate complications and mortality rates, to determine which factors influenced these rates and to identify the means to improve these results.

The intraoperative mortality and the overall mortality rates were respectively 21.4% and 57%. The factors which influenced hospital mortality were analyzed. The most important factors were the age, the depth of the initial shock, the volume of blood transfused and the location of rupture.

These factors cannot be controlled by the surgeon and it should be noted that a significant reduction of the mortality rate may be very difficult or even impossible to achieve. These findings support the concept of aggressive elective resection of abdominal aortic aneurysms.