The management of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objective To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm in 17 cases.Methods The data of 17 cases with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm(RAAA) in our department from May 2002 to March 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Open surgery was performed on 15 out of 17 patients with RAAA.Other treatments included Foley catheters emergently blocking artery to stop bleeding,cell saver for autohemotransfusion and vascular prosthesis replacement.The other 2 patients underwent endovascular stent-graft repair,1 succeed and 1 converted into open surgery.Of all cases,there were 3 deaths and 14 survivals.Conclusion Once the precursory symptoms such as abdominal pain presented,patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm must be treated by surgery as soon as possible.The balloon catheter may block artery to significantly short hemorrhagic shock.Reducing intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion is the key to successful treatment.