HOW MAXIMUM DIAMETER AFFECTS THE DECISION TO REPAIR AORTIC-ANEURYSM

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.