Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Four Nonagenarians

(Department of Surgery, Metropolitan Fuchu Hospital, Fuchu, Japan)

Akira Oshima Taisei Maemura
We encountered 4 nonagenarian cases of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). They were 2 men and 2 women aged between 90 and 94. Two cases were saved but two were lost. The percentage of success in this age group was low but there was no statistical inferiority. The serum hemoglobin levels on admission were low and they had a tendency towards acidosis in spite of fairly good blood pressure. The causes of death were hemorrhagic shock and intestinal necrosis. We have to treat more carefully and vigorously to secure elderly surgical cases of RAAA. One patient died of cerebral infarction after discharge. We recommend that the patients of RAAA in nonagenarians should undergo surgical operations except in cases of severe shock or cardiopulmonary arrest.
@Jpn. J. Cardiovasc. Surg. 33: 235-239 (2004)