Background: This study investigated the surgical outcomes of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) requiring emergency or elective intervention, admitted to our clinic during the last 10 years.

Methods: One hundred and ninety patients (27 females, 163 males; mean age 64.9±7, 8 years; range 36 to 93 years) with infradiaphragmatic AAA requiring surgical intervention and admitted to our clinic between January 1998 and January 2008 were assessed retrospectively.

Results: Of the 190 patients, 163 were electively operated while 27 presented emergently. Three of the electively operated patients died. Eight of the emergent patients died during the preparation phase in the intensive care unit or while being admitted to operating room. Of the nineteen patients operated on emergently, 10 died, and nine were discharged. The mortality rate for electively operated patients was 1.84%, while the mortality rate for patients who underwent emergency operations was 52%.

Conclusion: Overall peri- and postoperative mortality increases by up to 66% in emergency situations. For this reason a national program and screening tests must be enhanced for people with a high risk of aneurysm development and advanced age. In this manner, early diagnosis can be achieved. For emergency conditions without circuit, an appropriate intervention must be designed.

Keywords : Abdominal aortic aneurysm; morbidity and mortality; surgical intervention