HEMODYNAMIC MANAGEMENT IN RUPTURED ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSM

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm currently accounts for about 1 in 2 00 deaths and is a critical surgical emergency with an average hospita l mortality of 50%. The combination of acute massive haemorrhage in an elderly patient with pre-existing medical disease is highly lethal an d a major challenge for any health care system. This article outlines the general principles of management and discusses the problems of hae modynamic assessment and preclamping fluid resuscitation.