Effect of Patient Transfer on Outcomes after Open Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) benefit from treatment in high-volume facilities. This study explored the effect of patient transfer on outcomes and the relationship between hemodynamic status and mortality. We performed a retrospective review of 83 consecutive patients who had open repair for RAAA at a single tertiary facility. The patients were divided into two groups based on arrival in the local emergency department, “local” (n = 44) versus “transfer” (n = 39) from an outside institution, and into three categories of hemodynamic status: (a) no obtainable blood pressure, “pulseless”; (b) requiring vasopressor support, “pressors”; and (c) no vasopressor support, “no pressors.” Thirty-day mortality was 21.4%. There was no difference in mortality between the local (18.2%) and transfer (25.6%) patients (p = .41). There were no deaths during transfer. There was no difference in the hemodynamic status of the transfer versus the local group (p = .34). The mortality by category was pu...