[Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm]

About 40% of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) die before admission to the hospital. The next 40-50% of patients who reach a hospital die in the perioperative period or in 30 days after surgery. Two groups of patients with ruptured AAA can be distinguished: first-with intra-abdominal rupture, second-with retro-peritoneal rupture. The aim of the study was the retrospective analysis of the treatment results of the patients with retro-peritoneal rupture of AAA. 78 patients underwent a surgical procedure in the Department of General and Vascular Surgery in Bydgoszcz, Poland, between 1.01.1985 and 30.10.1996 78 patients (68 men and 10 women, mean age 67.6 (53-94) were entered into this study. Based on diagnostic and surgical procedure the two periods of the different treatment of our patients can be distinguished. In the first period of the time from 1.01.1985 to 31.12.1992 patients were operated on immediately after admission to the hospital. In the second period from 1.01.1993 to 31.10.1996 patients were admitted to Intensive Care Unit. In this unit patients were intensively treated and prepared for surgical procedure. During the time the computerized tomography (CT) scanning was performed. In the first period the perioperative mortality rate was 74.7%. In the second period the perioperative mortality rate was 42.2%. The 1-3 hours postponement of operative procedure of the patients with retro-peritoneal rupture of AAA can decrease the perioperative mortality rate. During the time patients were intensively treated and prepared for surgical procedure and CT examination enabled to chose proper surgical technique.