[Results of conventional surgical therapy of abdominal aortic aneurysms since the beginning of the "endovascular era"].
BACKGROUND
In 1990 the new method of endovascular graft treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) emerged. For this reason we analyzed the results of open surgery for AAA in our department to consider the question of standard therapy.


METHODS
In a retrospective study the medical data of 941 consecutive patients treated by open surgery in a single center from 1990 to 1997 (mean age 67 years, 14.5 % female, 3.2 % suprarenal AAA) were analyzed. Operations were performed electively in 778 asymptomatic patients, urgently in 104 symptomatic patients, and as emergency operations (immediately after admission) in 59 symptomatic patients (45 patients presenting with rupture).


RESULTS
Mortality was 1.54 % (elective operations), 8.65 % (urgent operations), and 35.6 % (emergency operations, rupture). Morbidity was 15.9 % (elective operations), 28.8 % (urgent operations), and 66.7 % (emergency operations, rupture). Mortality was not increased in patients undergoing additional procedures of the renal, iliac, femoral, or crural arteries.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of its low mortality and morbidity today open surgical repair remains the standard therapy for AAA.
Pfeiffer
T
T
Klinik für Gefässchirurgie und Nierentransplantation (Direktor: Prof. Dr. W. Sandmann), Heinrich Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. tomas.pfeiffer@uni-duesseldorf.de
Reiher
L
L
Grabitz
K
K
Sandmann
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors