A prospective survey of patients presenting with abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objectives:To define the presentation and management of patients presenting with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)Design and setting:A prospective survey was carried out of all patients presenting to hospitals within the Oxford region.Materials and methods:Data were collected by one surgeon in each hospital. Full details were collected onto data sheets.Results:One hundred and ninety patients presented, 141 electively, 46 with ruptured AAA and three with acute AAAs. In 53 patients presenting electively the aneurysm was small and surveillance started. Fifty-six patients underwent an operation, three patients died. Of 46 patients with a ruptured aneurysm 24 (52%) died. In 11 no operation was carried out and all of these patients died within 24 h. Operative mortality was 13 of 35 patients (37%). More patients with a ruptured AAA were transferred to the teaching hospital compared with a district general hospital (p