The goal of this study was to identify patients who need longer care in the ICU (more than 48 hours) following abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery and to evaluate the influence of perioperative complications on short- and long-term survival and quality of life. AAA surgery was performed in 553 patients, 51 (9%) of whom died within the first 48 hours. Of the 502 patients who survived for more than 48 hours, 109 required ICU therapy for more than 48 hours, whereas 393 patients were in the ICU for less than 48 hours. The incidence of preoperative risk factors was similar for the two groups. The cumulated survival rates for the two groups were 68% and 92% at 1 months, 52% and 88% at 1 year, and 60% and 33% at 6 years, respectively. This significant difference was primarily related to renal, pulmonary, and cardiac complications. However, assessment of the most severe complications and risk factors combined failed to permit identification of patients in whom the perioperative survival rate was 0%. Even 20% of patients with multiorgan failure survived for 6 months. Of those patients who needed ICU therapy for more than 48 hours, 41 (38%) were alive at the end of 1988. In response to a questionnaire, 78% stated that their quality of life had improved or was unchanged after surgery and had resumed working. These data justify a therapeutically aggressive approach, including ICU therapy following AAA surgery, despite failure of one or more organ systems.

During a 10-year period in which 735 patients presented with abdominal aortic aneurysms to our clinic, 63 were not offered operative treatment. The primary reason for choosing conservative treatment was concomitant diseases that increased the risk of operation. After 2 years of followup, half of the patients died, and the cumulative 5-year survival rate was 15%. Aneurysm rupture was the primary cause of death. The cumulative 5-year mortality hazard rate from rupture was 0.36, corresponding to an annual risk of rupture of 7%. The cumulative 5-year hazard rate of death from all other causes was 1.53, corresponding to an annual risk of 30%. Diameter of the aneurysm was found to be the only factor with a significant impact on the rate of rupture. The cumulative 5-year hazard rate of rupture among patients with aneurysms < 6 cm and > or = 6 cm was 0.2 and 0.6, respectively, corresponding to an annual risk of rupture of less than 5% and 10% to 15%, respectively. However, neither diameter nor other risk factors had significant influence on the time of rupture. In our opinion, once the diagnosis is confirmed the patient should be offered aneurysm resection if the general health status permits anesthesia.

Parmi 656 malades operes d'un anevrysme de l'aorte abdominale, 81 (12%) ont presente une insuffisance renale post-operatoire. Une hypotension et un etat de choc etaient presents en pre-operatoire chez 88% des malades operes d'un anevrysme rompu, alors que tous les malades operes electivement avaient une pression arterielle normale. Trente deux malades ont ete dialyses, les 49 autres malades ayant ete traites sans dialyse. Quarante sept malades (58%) sont decedes dans les 30 premiers jours post-operatoires

Among 656 patients undergoing surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm, 81 patients (12%) developed postoperative renal failure. Before operation hypotension and shock occurred in 88% of the patients with ruptured aneurysm, whereas none of the patients operated electively were hypotensive. Dialysis was performed in 32 patients, while the remaining 49 patients were managed without dialysis. Within 30 days after the operation 47 patients (58%) had died. There was no difference in mortality between patients in dialysis and patients managed without dialysis. Thirteen patients died during follow-up. In six cases the death was caused by renal failure only or in combination with failure of other organs. Analysis of the cumulative survival shows that, if the patients survive the postoperative period, their life expectancy is comparable to that of patients without renal complications.

Real time ultrasound mapping of the greater saphenous vein (GSV) was performed in 30 consecutive patients admitted for in situ femoro-crural revascularisation. The overall accuracy in predicting the adequacy of the GSV for in situ bypass was 90%. The predictive value of finding the vein usable was 96%, whereas the predictive value of judging the vein inadequate was 50%. The scanning procedure provided morphologic information about the GSVs, including size, tributaries, varicosities, and double segments, which may prevent unnecessary dissection and may further shorten the duration of surgery. In our opinion the technique is sufficiently accurate to replace phlebography for the routine preoperative assessment of GSV in patients considered for in situ bypass. Veins judged inadequate at scanning, however, should be further evaluated.

Ninety-nine patients, with a mean age of 40 years, underwent surgery for arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs during 1975-81. The main indication for surgery was claudication and the median observation time 102 months (range 54-138 months). Twenty patients died during the follow-up period and fifteen of these could be related to arteriosclerotic disease. At follow-up, 43 patients had claudication, while 34 patients had developed other arteriosclerotic manifestations. Amputation was performed in 17 patients. At follow-up the number of patients at work remained almost unchanged, whereas the number of patients receiving disablement pension increased. This study shows that younger patients with arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs had a mortality of approximately 20%, during the period of observation of this study. However, many patients became asymptomatic after surgery suggesting that a conservative attitude to arterial surgery in these patients cannot be justified.

Infrapopliteal vascular reconstruction was undertaken in 63 patients with limb threatening ischaemia. Graft materials used were reversed autogenous saphenous vein in 33 patients, umbilical vein in 23 patients, composites of saphenous and umbilical vein in six patients, and a Solcograft in one patient. At the end of the first month 13 grafts were non-functioning, and eight of these patients had an amputation performed. Cumulative 3-year limb salvage and patency rates were 69% and 35%, respectively. Cumulative patency rates of saphenous and umbilical vein grafts were equal, and neither the indication for operation nor the preoperative ankle-arm pressure index correlated to graft failure. In total, twenty-two major amputations were performed, 16 below or through the knee, and six above-knee. The conclusion is that vascular reconstructive surgery for limb threatening distal disease is a valuable procedure.