Das abdominelle Aortenaneurysma: Indikation - Therapie - Ergebnisse

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Indication – Therapy – Results. The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been rising over the past two decades. In spite of emergency surgery ruptured AAA has a mortality of 50 %. In elective cases mortality can be reduced to 3 % or less. In 95 % unspecific degenerative processes of the vessel wall are the reason for AAA. Indication for surgery are asymptomatic AAAs 5,5 cm or greater and all patients with symptomatic disease eligible for open surgery. Diagnosis and follow up is performed by ultrasound examinations. Whenever surgery is indicated a CTscan is recommended. Co-morbidity of AAA-patients increases surgical risk and shortens life expectancy even after successful procedures. Therefore, patients with high risk should undergo endovascular repair. Open surgery remains the golden standard for younger patients with low surgical risk. Endovascular repair enables to treat ASA IV patients with high surgical risk, who are not eligible for open surgery. Z Gefasmed 2005; 3 (1): 4–8.