RUPTURED ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSMS IN THE 1990S - RESOURCE UTILIZATION, LONG-TERM SURVIVAL, AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE AFTER REPAIR

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) is a lethal disease. The aim of this study was to assess resource use, long-term outcome, and func tional status of patients surviving repair of RAAAs. A retrospective r eview was made over a 42-month period. Functional status was assessed by use of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (MOS SF-36) at a me an follow-up time of 29 months. Fifty-seven patients with an RAAA unde rwent surgical repair. The overall in-hospital mortality rate after su rgical repair was 39%. Risk factors predictive for a poor hospital out come were preoperative systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg, hema tocrit less than 25%, transfusion requirements greater than 15 units, renal failure, and need for perioperative cardiopulmonary resuscitatio n (CPR). Total hospital costs were significantly higher for survivors compared with nonsurvivors. Hospital cost per survivor was $86,977. In tensive Care Unit, laboratory, and blood bank costs accounted for 50% of total hospital costs. Based on the eight domains of the MOS SF-36, no significant difference was found between the functional status of t hose patients surviving emergent repair of RAAAs and that of the gener al population of a similar age.