Quality of life following repair of ruptured and elective abdominal aortic aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether patients undergoing repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) had more emotional problems and limitations of lifestyle than those listed for elective resection.


METHODS
Retrospective study


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Eire. SUBJETS: 28 patients, 14 in each group, matched for age, sex, duration of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital stay postoperatively, and length of time since operation.


METHODS
Application of structured questionnaire.


METHODS
Emotional problems, mobility, activities of daily living, ability to sleep, degree of psychological stress, presence of symptoms, and Rosser index to measure quality of life (QoL).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the groups in any measure.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients have few emotional difficulties or disturbances of QoL after emergency or elective repair of AAA. Survivors after repair of ruptured AAA can expect as good a quality of life as those operated on electively. These results support an aggressive approach to the treatment of ruptured AAA.
Hennessy
A
A
Department of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
Barry
M C
MC
McGee
H
H
O'Boyle
C
C
Hayes
D B
DB
Grace
P A
PA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires