Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Surgery vs. follow-up

Abdominal aortic aneursysm (AAA) over 5 cm in diameter is the most common indication tor operation but oper li ve repair is relatively incidated for AAA measuring 3.5 to 5 cm in diameter. Between 1968 and 1993 in lstanbul !Jniv rsity Medical School, Oepartment of Genaral Surgery, Peripheric Vascular Unit, 168 unruptured AAA were operated.

in this study, 45 patients who received surgery between 1989 and 1993 were statistically analyzed for risk factor. Diameters of AAA's were 4 to 5 cm in 14 patients, 5 to 6 cm in 14 patients and remaining, over 6 cm. in the patients with small AAA (4-5 cm.) who had no risk factors, mortality was not observed.

This study demonstrated that operatlon might be a strong alterrrative than the expectant policy for the patients with small AAA who were carefully examin,e,Hor risk factors and found to be free of them,