Abstract
Aims
Prior to the introduction of the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme some authors have reported a decline in incidence of clinically-relevant AAAs. The aim of this study was to identify the changing pattern of, and mortality from, ruptured AAA (rAAA) in patients reaching hospital alive in Wales.
Methods
Data was obtained from the Public Health Wales Observatory retrieved Patient Episode Database submitted by all seven Welsh Health Boards of patients admitted alive with a rAAA over a five year period from 2007 - 2012. This data was compared to an historic publication of similar data (Basnyat et al.) for Wales in 1997.
Results
For 1996-1997 233 patients (158 males) presented to Welsh hospitals with a rAAA, in comparison to 115 (78 male) in 2012-13. Furthermore in 1996-1997 133 patients underwent emergency surgery with 48 (36%) surviving compared to 66 (51%) operated and 21 (19%) surviving in 2012-13.
Conclusions
Over a 16 year period prior to the introduction of a national screening program the number of patients presenting with a rAAA has more than halved in Wales. Unfortunately, outcomes for patients undergoing emergency repair of a rAAA remains poor.