Mortality from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in Wales

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of, and mor tality in, patients with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) reachin g hospital alive in Wales. Methods: Patients who presented with a ruptured AAA between September 1996 and August 1997 were analysed. Data were collected prospectively by an inde pendent body, observing strict confidentiality. Results: Some 233 patients with a confirmed ruptured AAA were identified, g iving an incidence of eight per 100 000 total population. Some 133 patients (57 per cent) underwent attempted operative repair; 85 (64 per cent) of th ese died within 30 days. Of the 233 patients, 92 were admitted under the ca re of a vascular surgeon and 141 under a non-vascular surgeon. Vascular sur geons operated on 82 patients (89 per cent), of whom 50 (61 per cent) died, whereas non-vascular surgeons operated on 51 patients (36 per cent), of wh om 35 (69 per cent) died. Discussion: This study is unique as it is an independent prospective study of mortality in patients with a ruptured AAA who reached hospital alive. Mo rtality was independent of the operating surgeon, but vascular surgeons tur ned down significantly fewer patients than non-vascular surgeons (11 versus 64 per cent, P<0.001).