Surgical classification of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

A new surgical classification of abdominal aortic aneurysms is proposed. The classification is based upon the clinical features immediately prior to surgery and the findings during operation. Group I consists of elective cases without symptoms, group II elective cases with symptoms, group III suspected rupture, group IV rupture without clinical shock and group V rupture with clinical shock. The mortality in a material of 129 cases was 0 in group I and progressed to 74% in group V. The mortality distribution was confirmed by a collective review of the literature. The proposed classification sheds light upon the natural history of the disease, prognosis and indication for operation.