An 'all comers' policy for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: How can results be improved?

Mary C. Barry, Paul E. Burke, Stephen Sheehan, Austin Leahy, Patrick J. Broe, David J. Bouchier-Hayes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To review our experience of a non-selective policy for the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm to see if the policy was justified, and to identify any preoperative risk factors that adversely influenced outcome. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Teaching hospital, Republic of Ireland. Subjects: 258 patients admitted with abdominal aortic aneurysms between January 1982 and December 1993. Interventions: Definitive surgical treatment. Main outcome measures: Morbidity, mortality, and risk factors. Results: In-hospital mortality for all patients was 43% (110/258). Overall, women did worse than men (28/44, 64%, died, compared with 96/214, 45%, p = 0.03). The mortality among patients over the age of 80 (23/45, 51%) was not significantly different from that among younger patients (97/202, 48%). Blood pressure, platelet count, and haemoglobin concentration were all significantly lower preoperatively among those who died (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Age alone cannot be used to justify witholding definitive surgical treatment. Treatment should be aimed towards reversing haematological and haemodynamic abnormalities preoperatively to try to improve outcome.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)263-270
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Surgery
Volume164
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Age
  • Mortality
  • Renal failure
  • Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An 'all comers' policy for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: How can results be improved?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this