Anaesthesia for abdominal vascular surgery

Cowlishaw, Phillip J.; Telford, Richard J.

doi:10.1016/j.mpaic.2007.03.014

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Volume 8, Issue 6 , Pages 248-252, June 2007

Anaesthesia for abdominal vascular surgery

Phillip J Cowlishaw, FRCA, is Specialist Registrar in the South West School of Anaesthesia. He graduated from Birmingham University and has interests in paediatric and vascular anaesthesia

Richard J Telford, FRCA, is Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Chairman of the Vascular Anaesthesia Society of Great Britain and Ireland. He trained in anaesthesia in London, Liverpool and the USA. His interests are in improving outcomes from major surgery

Abstract

Abdominal vascular surgery is required for aneurysmal and symptomatic occlusive disease of the aorta. Abdominal aortic aneurysms account for more than 8,500 deaths per year in England and Wales. Most deaths occur as a result of rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm, which has an overall mortality of 80%. These deaths are potentially preventable because elective repair of the abdominal aorta can be performed with an operative mortality of less than 7%. This article reviews the current indications and anaesthetic practices for open and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Keywords: abdominal aortic aneurysms, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, vascular surgery