Myocardial Infarction and Stroke after Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Objectives: The objective of this study is to establish the incidence of stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) in patients who survived operative intervention for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). The secondary outcome was to identify how age correlates to surviving a RAAA repair. Methods: Data from all patients who were operated on for a RAAA during a 6-year period (July 2012 to May 2018) at a single vascular center was obtained from the national vascular registry. The patients who had new neurological symptoms were assessed using computed tomography brain imaging for signs of a stroke and patient with signs/symptoms of MI were assessed using serum troponin levels and electrocardiography (ECG) with troponin levels >100 ng/L and pathognomonic ECG changes, being diagnostic. Results: There were 94 patients operated on for RAAA of which 53 (56%) survived. There were 3 (5.6%) incidences of MI and 1 (1.9%) incidence of stroke in this RAAA cohort. The mortality from a RAAA seems to favor the younger population with patients older than 75 years at least 6 times more likely to die from a RAAA than a patient <65 years. Conclusion: The risk of an MI after elective aortic operation has been in the range of 5% which is similar to that observed in this group of patients who survived an aortic rupture and repair. Furthermore, the risk of a stroke postaortic repair for RAAA does not appear to be of an higher incidence in patients who have an elective AAA repair as studies have quoted incidence in the region of 1%–10% postroutine repair. Surviving a RAAA is more likely to occur if the person is younger.

Publication History

Article published online:
26 April 2021