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, bf 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 unit 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.