Aneurysm surgery above the eighth decade.

A series of nine patients over 70 years of age with saccular aneurysms, operated on by direct surgery, is reviewed in order to discuss aneurysm surgery in older patients. The median age of the patients was 74 years, and the median interval from haemorrhage to surgery was 18 days. Operative mortality was 11%, and morbidity was 33%. Because of arteriosclerosis round the aneurysm neck and parent artery, special considerations for surgical treatment on the older patients are required.