Should ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms be repaired in the octogenarian?
OBJECTIVE
Several investigators have suggested a dismal prognosis of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) repair in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the morbidity and mortality of rAAA repair in octogenarians and compare it to that of a younger population.


METHODS
From 1980 to 2000, all patients undergoing emergent rAAA repair were divided into two groups based on their age; Group I: age <80, Group II: > or =80 years. Outcomes were evaluated based on a Chi-square test and a P-value <0.05 indicated statistical significance.


RESULTS
Over a 20-year period, 323 patients underwent rAAA repair through a left retroperitoneal (74%) or standard transperitoneal (26%) approach. In Group I (age <80 years) and II (> or =80 years), the overall 30-day mortality was 25 and 41% (P<0.05), respectively. Furthermore, the elderly population had a higher incidence of death due to myocardial infarction (15 vs. 7%), as well as non-fatal cardiac and cerebrovascular events (17 vs. 4%) when compared to the younger patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the elderly patients have an increased risk of having cardiac and cerebrovascular events in the postoperative period, the treatment of rAAAs in these patients should not be any different than that of a younger population. The left retroperitoneal approach is feasible and beneficial for rAAA repair and is associated with a limited morbidity and mortality.
Roddy
Sean P
SP
Albany Medical College, Institute for Vascular Health and Disease MC157, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
Darling
R Clement
RC
Maharaj
Dale
D
Ozsvath
Kathleen J
KJ
Mehta
Manish
M
Paty
Philip S K
PS
Kreienberg
Paul B
PB
Choi
Daniel
D
Chang
Benjamin B
BB
Shah
Dhiraj M
DM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000601:surgery*; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome