title: Preoperative coagulopathy in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm predicts poor outcome.
abstract: In a prospective study of 50 consecutive patients undergoing operation for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, a coagulation screen was performed on admission to hospital. Twenty patients with either a platelet count < 100 x 10(9)/l or a prothrombin time > 1.5 times the control value had a mortality rate of 65 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 45-85 per cent); a further 23 patients with normal screen results had a mortality rate of 9 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 0-20 per cent) (P < 0.001). Seven patients, of whom three died, did not have an admission coagulation screen performed. Patient age in the study group did not have independent statistical predictive power. This study indicates that coagulopathy at the time of admission predicts poor outcome in patients with ruptured aortic aneurysm. Current management strategies are inadequate for the treatment of these patients, who can be rapidly identified on admission by means of platelet and prothrombin counts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Murie
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Elton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gillon
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Ruckley
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D010976:Platelet Count; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012307:Risk Factors