RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) have a mortality of 40-50%. The purpose of the present investigation is to document the mortality and morbidity of such patients at Rigshospitalet (RH) in 2005. The results are compared with the best results published internationally (benchmark) and with predicted mortality. Factors in postoperative intensive therapy that can improve morbidity and mortality are identified. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective calculation and analysis of mortality and morbidity. Data were collected from an Intensive Care Unit's (ICU) Critical Information System, a blood bank and the database of a vascular surgery unit. RESULTS: The perioperative mortality was 8%, ICU mortality 22%, postoperative mortality 33% and 30-day mortality 39%. The ICU mortality for patients with renal failure and septic shock was significantly higher than the overall ICU mortality. The ICU mortality and morbidity increased with the amount of postoperative blood loss. Patients with an initial serum creatinine concentration of <0.100 mmol/l had a 30-day mortality that was lower than that of patients with a higher initial serum creatinine concentration. CONCLUSION: The treatment of patients with rAAA at RH is comparable to leading clinical practice results. Postoperative bleeding, septic shock and renal failure are identified as predictive factors for increased ICU mortality and morbidity, for which reason future monitoring and postoperative rAAA therapy should include improved monitoring and intervention against postoperative bleeding and early identification of signs of sepsis and renal dysfunction.