Little impact of elective surgery on the incidence and mortality of ruptured aortic aneurysms.

Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is an important cause of death, particularly for men over 60 years of age. The aim of elective surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms is to prevent future death from rupture of the aneurysm. The present study examines the influence of elective surgery upon the rate of rupture, comparing 1980 when little elective surgery was done and 1989 when considerably more elective surgery was performed in a well defined population. The rate of rupture and death from such a cause was not affected by the increased number of elective operations. It is concluded that the number of operations generally performed is too small to significantly affect the mortality from rupture. In order to decrease this mortality patients with a high risk of rupture should be found and offered elective surgery.