S. Matzke et M. Lepantalo, HOW MAXIMUM DIAMETER AFFECTS THE DECISION TO REPAIR AORTIC-ANEURYSM, Annales chirurgiae et gynaecologiae, 87(2), 1998, pp. 163-165
Background and Aims: The aneurysm size at which operative or endovascu
lar repair is indicated is still a matter of dispute. The aim of the s
tudy was to assess how Finnish surgeons decide and what they regard as
indication for elective operation. Material and Methods: The material
was collected with a questionnaire handed out at two surgical meeting
s. The smallest aneurysm diameters at which operation was indicated ac
cording to the opinion of the respondents were recorded. Results: 41 q
uestionnaires were returned. The diameters showed a great variation al
though 85 % of the surgeons placed their limit for treatment between 4
0 and 50 mm as maximum diameter. 83 % held the opinion that a patient
with a high operative risk could still be treated using endoluminal st
ent grafts. Conclusions: There is no consensus among surgeons regardin
g the size limits for aneurysm surgery, especially in the evolving fie
ld of endovascular surgery.