Long term results of surgery of aortic aneurysms

During 10 years, between 01.01.80 and 01.12.89, 838 patients have been operated on consequently for a A.A.A. in the vascular surgery department of the Hospital Pitie-Salpetriere (Paris). Post-operative death was 7.3% (51 patients) among 692 operated on without emergency and 41.7% (60 patients) among 146 patients operated on emergency. The study was undertaken with the 727 surviving patients (86.8%) for the long term follow-up. Only 25 patients (3.4%) were lost out, so 702 patients (96.6%) had complete recalls even to their late death until the fourth trimester 1990. Total deaths, were 172 patients, (24.5%) out of the 702 patients in the follow-up. 60 patients (34.9%) died from cancer, 52 patients (30.2%) from heart disease, 21 patients (12.2%) from C.V.A. (cerebro-vascular-accident), 8 (4.6%) from rupture of aneurysm, 6 (3.6%) from renal insufficiency, 5 (2.9%) from prosthesis infection, 10 (5.8%) died from known reasons, 10 (5.8%) from unknown reasons. All these results were studied according to the "actuarial method" and the conclusions were as follow. The actual survival rate at 5 years was 72.1% +/- 5.6% and the average annual death rate was 5.8%. The factors which have influenced the late death are: a) Patients age: survival rate at 5 years and average annual death rate were significantly different whether the patients were less or more than 70 at the time of surgery. b) Surgical circonstances: late survival was significatively less with patients operated on emergency. c) Cerebro-vascular insufficiency. The average annual rates from cardio-vascular and cerebro-vascular accident were significatively more important in patients which previously had cerebro-vascular insufficiency. This work shows out that cardiac death are slightly overcame by cancer, but these two factors represent almost 2/3 (65.1%) of late death. So it should be important for prevention of late death to screen for lung and E.N.T. cancers. Some authors have proposed for prevention of coronarian accidents extensive use of coronarography and myocardial revascularisation. We prefer more acute screening than aggressive methods for patients with coronary problem who had surgery for A.A.A. and specially when they are less than 70 at surgical time.