Non-operative management of high-risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.
OBJECTIVE
to determine the risk of rupture in patients with large non-operated abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).


METHODS
in 128 patients admitted over a 5-year period with an intact AAA, and who did not have a surgical repair were included, initial maximum antero-posterior AAA diameter was related to survival and cause of death.


RESULTS
at the end of follow-up 27/52 (52%) patients with AAA <55 mm were alive compared to 17/62 (27%) patients with AAA > or =55 mm. Six (12%) in the former and 18 (29%) in the latter group had an AAA-related death. However, non-AAA-related death was commoner in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
these findings support a role for non-operative management in high-risk patients with large AAAs.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate