Trends in abdominal aortic aneurysms: a 13 year review.

AIM

To assess changing trends of abdominal aortic aneurysms 1979-1991.

DESIGN

Retrospective study from the Leicestershire Health Authority.

RESULTS

727 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated. Of these 56.4% were admitted for elective repair and 43.6% presented with rupture. There was a significant increase in the number of ruptured aortic aneurysms over this period despite an increase in the number of elective repairs. The overall 30-day mortality of elective repair (including patients with symptomatic but non-ruptured aneurysms) was 8.8%. The overall 30-day mortality of ruptured aneurysms (including patients who were deemed medically too unfit for surgery) was 57.7%. There has been no significant change in elective and ruptured mortality over the study period. There was a significant increase in the median age of patients (69.5 yrs in 1979 to 74 yrs in 1991).

CONCLUSION

The increasing incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms may reflect better diagnostic methods, greater clinical awareness of the condition and increase in the proportion of elderly people in the population.