Management of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Libya, a Single Centre Experience

Abstract

Without urgent repair, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a fatal condition, with overall mortality rate exceeding
85%. About 50% of patients with ruptured AAA die before reaching the hospital; half of those arriving to emergency
department, do not reach the operating theatre and, only half of the operated cases survive. Twenty one patients (nineteen
males and two females) who underwent open repair for ruptured AAA, between January 2005 and December 2008, were
retrospectively evaluated at the vascular surgery department of Tripoli Medical Centre.
The perioperative mortality rate was 28.5% (six patients) and, the morbidity was 23.8% (five patients). Computed
tomography (CT) scan has been done for all patients in our study, this always led to delay in the management of the
ruptured AAA. Moreover, other delaying factors such as; not using the cell safer and, the delay in preparing blood for
transfusion during surgery, were also involved in the overall delay. Despite these negative factors, still mortality and
morbidity rates in our study matched the international standards.