Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Results From a Community Hospital

Abstract

The results of the management of patients with confirmed abdominal aortic aneurysms in a community general hospital over a 5-year period were re viewed. The patients were grouped according to the presentation of their aneurysms into 3 categories: asymptomatic, symptomatic, and ruptured. Al together 64 patients were included in the study; 24 underwent surgery at the Grace General Hospital in Winnipeg, 3 were transferred to the teaching hospi tals in the city, and the remaining 37 patients did not undergo surgery. The postoperative complication rate was 80%. The operative mortality rate was nil in the asymptomatic group, 8% in the symptomatic group, and 17% in the ruptured group. The importance of clinical diagnosis in all types is emphasized, and the value of different investigative techniques to confirm the diagnosis is discussed. It is recommended that all patients with aortic aneurysms should be assessed by vascular surgeons for possible surgical treatment.