The influence of age on operative mortality and long-term relative survival following emergency abdominal aortic aneurysm operations.
OBJECTIVE
To study operative mortality and long-term survival following emergency operations for abdominal aortic aneurysm.


METHODS
Retrospective survey in a university hospital.


METHODS
Two hundred and twenty-seven patients with median age 72 years, (17% women).


METHODS
Founded on data from the Norwegian Registrar's Office, operative mortality and long-term survival was estimated using the life-table method. Expected survival for demographically matched subgroups was calculated from death rate tables issued by the Norwegian Central Bureau of Statistics.


RESULTS
Operative mortality was 41% for the 175 patients with ruptured aneurysms and 17% for the 52 with imminent rupture. The 6-year survival rate was 61% for all the successfully operated patients, and not different from that of a demographically matched population. For the patients of 72 years or older the 6-year survival rate was 53%. This was equal to that of an age and sex matched population. The younger patients had an observed 6-year survival rate of 64%, which was significantly lower than the expected of 84%. The standard mortality rate for this group was 2.25. No statistically significant difference in long-term survival was detected between the two age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Age at the time of the operation for a symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm does not seem to influence long-term survival. Consequently, younger patients experience a higher relative mortality compared to the older.
Aune
S
S
Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Amundsen
S R
SR
Evjensvold
J
J
Trippestad
A
A
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors