Ruptured aortic aneurysm: the decision not to operate

Despite published criteria predicting poor survival after operation for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA), little is known about the factors which influence surgeons not to operate. Questionnaires were sent to all 404 members of the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, posing questions about their practices, and factors influencing the decision not to operate (no influence; may influence; seldom operate; never operate). There were 323 responses (81%) and 97% decided not to operate on selected patients. Age over 80 years influenced 77%, and 54% seldom or never operate over age 85 years. The single most influential factor was severe neurological disease (75% seldom or never operate), while cardiac, pulmonary and renal disease influenced 22%, 28%, and 21%, respectively, to operate seldom or never (74% if two or more of these). Other factors which had some influence for most surgeons were cardiac arrest (85%), loss of consciousness (74%), prolonged hypotension (73%), and long-term nursing care (87%). By contrast, factors which influenced few surgeons were haemoglobin < 9 g/dl (30%), absence of a close relative (33%), and medicolegal considerations (22%). These data help to inform the debate about case selection for repair of RAAA.