TRENDS IN ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSMS - A 13-YEAR REVIEW

Aim: To assess changing trends of abdominal aortic aneurysms 1979 - 19 91. Design: Retrospective study from the Leicestershire Health Authori ty. Results: 727 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm were treated, bf these 56.4% were admitted for elective repair and 43.6% presented with rupture. There was a significant increase in the number of ruptur ed aortic aneurysms over this period despite an increase in the number of elective repairs. The overall 30-day mortality of elective repair (including patients with symptomatic but non-ruptured aneurysms) was 8 .8%. The overall 30-day mortality of ruptured aneurysms (including pat ients who were deemed medically too unit for surgery) was 57.7%. There has been no significant change in elective and ruptured mortality ove r the study period. There was a significant increase in the median age of patients (69.5 yrs in 1979 to 74 yrs in 1991). Conclusion: The inc reasing incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms may reflect better dia gnostic methods, greater clinical awareness of the condition and incre ase in the proportion of elderly people in the population.