title: [Mortality following elective surgery for abdominal aorta aneurysm].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of postoperative mortality in patients undergoing elective surgery for asymptomatic abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) in the Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This is compared with national statistical information and data in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent an elective open or endovascular intervention in connection with asymptomatic aneurysm of the infrarenal abdominal aorta ≥ 5.5 cm in the period 2004-2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study period 234 patients were electively operated for an abdominal aorta aneurysm (129 conventional and 104 endovascular interventions). In this period, 3 (1.3%) patients died in hospital or within 30 days of the intervention. Of the 73 patients ≥ 75 years of age, 2 (2.7%) died. None of the deceased patients were treated endovascularly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The figures presented for elective aneurysm surgery in the AMC are favourable in comparison with the published national mortality statistics of over 10% morality in patients ≥ 75 years of age. Because of the lack of randomized trials for treatment of aneurysms ≥ 5.5 cm there are many uncertainties concerning survival benefit obtained by operation. It is important for each clinic to arrange the care for elective aneurysm surgery in such a way that mortality is minimal. Important factors to achieve this are a well-attuned treatment team and careful patient selection.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum, Afd. Chirurgie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maarten J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van der Laan
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balm
authors.forename: Jos A P
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van der Sloot
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hollmann
authors.forename: Jim A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reekers
authors.forename: Dink A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Legemate
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate