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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Gerard Stansby
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INTRODUCTION: The risks and benefits of operating on patients with ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) have not been defined. The aim of the present study is to report this unit's experience with operations performed for ruptured TAAA over a 10-year period. METHODS: Interrogation of a prospectively gathered computerised database. PATIENTS: Between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 1996, 188 consecutive patients with TAAA were operated on, of whom 23 (12%) were operated for rupture. RESULTS: There were nine survivors (40%). Patients whose preoperative systolic blood pressure remained above 100 mmHg were significantly more likely to survive (4/8 vs. 13/15, p = 0.03 by Fisher's exact test). Survival was also related to Crawford type: type I (two of three survived); II (none of six); III (two of six); and IV (five of eight). All non-type II, non-shocked patients survived operation. Survivors spent a median of 28 (range 10-66) postoperative days in hospital, of which a median of 6 (range 2-24) days were spent in the intensive care unit. Survivor morbidity comprised prolonged ventilation (> 5 days) (n = 3); tracheostomy (n = 1); and temporary haemofiltration (n = 2). No survivor developed paraplegia or required permanent dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in shock with a Crawford type II aneurysm have such a poor prognosis that intervention has to be questioned except in the most favourable of circumstances. However, patients with types I, III and IV who are not shocked on presentation can be salvaged and, where possible, should be transferred to a unit where appropriate expertise and facilities are available.
Author(s): Stansby G; Bradbury AW; Bulstrode NW; Gilling-Smith G; Mansfield AO; Wolfe JH
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Year: 1999
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Pages: 160-165
Print publication date: 01/02/1999
ISSN (print): 1078-5884
ISSN (electronic): 1532-2165
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/ejvs.1998.0753
DOI: 10.1053/ejvs.1998.0753
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