Improved treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Progress over 17 years

During the period 1970-86, 155 men and 24 women were operated on for abdominal aortic aneurysms at the University Hospital in Tromsø. Elective operations were performed in 76 patients with an operative mortality of 5 (7%), impending rupture in 49, of whom 14 died (29%) and ruptured aneurysms in 54 patients, of whom 33 (61%) died. There has been a substantial increase in the number of patients per year admitted with abdominal aneurysms, from an average of 4.5 during the years 1970-76 inclusive, to over 20 during the years 1984-86. Operative and early postoperative mortality have been reduced and there has been no death following elective operations during the last three years of the reported period. Mortality was 8% for impending rupture and 45% for ruptured aneurysms. Electively abdominal aortic aneurysms can be operated safely even in patients over the age of 80. Ruptured aneurysms, however, still carry a high operative mortality in patients over the age of 70.