Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repairs - Treatment
What factors are important when deciding between open surgery or endovascular repair?
Mr Usman Jaffer explains some of the factors that may be important to consider when deciding which operation to have for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Research from our institution shows that there are a number of factors identified by key stakeholders (patients, surgeons, radiologists, anaesthetists, intensive care doctors, peri-operative doctors) that can allow you to make a more informed decision with your doctors. These include: pre-existing medical conditions, post-operative complications, 30-day mortality, type of anaesthesia, long-term durability of operation, time to return to normal activities, post-operative pain, patient expectations, impact on carers, personalised information, professional advice, involving others (family/friends), uncertainty, how invasive the surgery is, patient journey, patient values, social factors, need for follow up, length of hospital stay, probability of intensive care admission, impact of energy levels.