[Open surgery of abdominal aortic aneurysm].

BACKGROUND

We wanted to evaluate the results after open surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We present a retrospective survey of 581 patients operated for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm at the Tromsø University Hospital from 1980 through 1998.

RESULTS

The number of elective operations increased from two in 1980 to 18 in 1998. The frequency of conditions regarded as co-morbidity increased during the observed time period. Mean body mass index for electively operated men increased from 24.2 in 1980-84 to 26.1 in 1995-98 (p < 0.01). Mean aneurysms diameter of those operated electively was 60 mm. The operative (30 days) mortality rate was 7.6% for those operated electively, 9.8% for those with impending rupture, and 40% for those with ruptured aneurysm.

INTERPRETATION

We find these results comparable with those presented in other reports.