SURGERY FOR ELECTIVE INFRARENAL AORTIC ANEURYSM IN ELDERLY

Purpose: This study was undertaken to determine the risk factors for early mortality and morbidity rates for the elective surgical treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm in patients over 70 years old and to identify the early postoperative risk factors which may influence survival by comparison of the results with the patients under 70 years old.

Materials and method: 409 patients who underwent elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm between 1990 and 2005 were evaluated retrospectively. According to age, patients were divided into two group as, 283 patients (69.2%) (Group 1) younger than 70 years and 126 patients (30.8 %) (Group 2) 70 years or older.

Results: The early mortality rate was 3.9 % in Group 1 and 8.7 % in Group 2 (p<0.05). Hospital stay was 12±6.2 days and 19±4.7 days for group 1 and 2 respectively (p<0.05). Among the preoperative patient datas in Group 2, chronic obstructive lung disease (p<0.001) and coronary artery disease (p<0.01) were higher in frequency reaching to statistical significance. Cardiac complications were the main mortality cause of death in both groups.

Conclusion: When compared to mortality rates of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, elective repair of patients over 70 years old, age must notbe the reason to postphone the surgery and an agressive approach should be considered. The elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm surgery for patients over 70 years old seems to have satisfactory results however endovascular graft applications technique should be in surgeons armomentorium, as a strong alternative way of treatment. (Turkish J Vasc Surg 2005;14(3):1-7.