SURGERY OF AORTIC-ANEURYSMS IN PATIENTS O LDER THAN 70 - SURVIVAL EXPECTANCY AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE

The aim of this study was to assess results of surgery for aneurysms o f the abdominal aorta in patients over 70 years of age. Survival and q uality of life were used as assessment criteria. Files of 277 patients over 70 years of age who had undergone surgery for an aneurysm of the subrenal abdominal aorta between 1974 and 1992 were examined retrospe ctively. There were 246 men and 31 women of whom 230 were under 80 and 47 over 80 years of age. The operation was programmed in 145 cases an d was an emergency procedure in 132 (45 ruptures and 87 painful fissur ations). Perioperative mortality was 1.4 % in programmed surgery and 1 9.7 % in emergency surgery. Overall actuarial survival was 60.07 % at 5 years and 26.04 % at 10 years. Quality of life after the operation w as unchanged in 56.1 %, improved in 19.3 % and worse in 24.6 %. Surger y for aneurysm of the sub-renal abdominal aorta is justified in patien ts over 70 years of age. It can provide satisfactory survival in good quality of life conditions.