title: Western Vascular Society guidelines for transfer of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When a patient with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) presents at a facility ill-equipped to provide care, transfer may provide the best chance for survival. Large distances and long travel times provide challenging barriers to prompt and appropriate care in the western United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Western Vascular Society (WVS) adopted a set of guidelines in considering transfer of a patient with an rAAA using published literature, membership survey and input, and existing recommendations. This article reports the guidelines and describes the process and rationale behind their development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen guidelines for transfer and care of rAAAs were endorsed by the WVS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When local care cannot be provided, transfer guidelines may standardize care for rAAAs and may be applicable across may practice settings.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif. Electronic address: mwmell@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Mell
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
authors.forename: Benjamin W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Starnes
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Larry W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Kraiss
authors.affiliation: Hawaii Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Honolulu, Hawaii.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, Calif.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Pevec
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D032921:Consensus; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000592:standards*; D004630:Emergencies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000592:standards*; D061665:Time-to-Treatment / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome