title: The comparison of type of incision for transperitoneal abdominal aortic surgery based on postoperative respiratory complications and morbidity.
abstract: Equal access to the abdominal aorta can be attained through midline and transverse abdominal incisions. The surgical literature suggests that transverse incisions cause less postoperative pain and morbidity. Fifty patients (10 females and 40 males, mean age 67 years) undergoing abdominal aortic surgery were randomised to a midline (n = 25) or transverse (n = 25) incision. All patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively for seven days. Changes in pulmonary function (FVC and FEV1), time to open and close the incision, analgesia used (morphine mg/kg/h), clinical or X-ray evidence of chest infection, and the duration of ICU stay were recorded. In the transverse group there was a reduction in the incidence of chest complications (20% vs. 28%, p = ns) and these incisions took longer to open (13.9 +/- 4.6 vs. 9.9 +/- 5.1, p < 0.05), but overall there was no significant difference between any other parameter in the two groups. Our results show no statistically significant difference in morbidity or analgesia consumption following transverse or midline abdominal incisions and we conclude that the type of incision used can be left to the surgeon's preference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, St James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lacy
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hehir
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Colgan
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Shanik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014797:Vital Capacity