RUPTURED ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM

1. Background- Scope of the Problem
2. Epidemiology
3. Pathogenesis
4. Wall Stress
5. Clinical Presentation
6. Diagnostics
7. Predictors of Certain Death
8. Pre-Hospital Considerations
9. Initial Diagnosis and Stabilization in the Emergency Room
10. Hypotensive Hemostasis
11. Aortic Occlusion Balloons
12. Operative Strategies
13. Randomized Trials- What is the evidence?- Non Randomized Evidence – What is the data telling us?- ICU Management
14. Post-operative Complications
15. Outcomes- Early and Late
16. Guidelines for Transfer to Specialized Centers
17. Quality of Life after rAAA repair
18. Coding and Reimbursement for rAAA
19. Historical Perspectives
20. Notes and Illustrations.

This manual is designed to serve as the standard for the management of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) by means of modern techniques. All aspects are covered, from pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and diagnosis through to initial management, operative strategies, postoperative complications, outcomes and quality of life issues. The book is based on the experience gained at a leading U.S. institution (Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington) that treats up to 40 patients with ruptured AAA annually and is highly respected for its expertise in this medical emergency. The team at Harborview Medical Center has recently shown that the implementation of a structured protocol for the management of ruptured AAA, with emphasis on an “endovascular-first” strategy, dramatically reduces mortality and complications. This has led to a sea change in the way in which patients are managed. There is an increasing hunger for information on these codified protocols and Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm will be invaluable for both surgeons and critical care physicians.

Features
• Designed to serve as the standard for the management of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Describes management protocols of proven value in reducing mortality and complications
• Based on experience gained at a leading institution recognized for its expertise in this medical emergency

Authors
Benjamin Ware Starnes, MD, FACS, is Professor and Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine and Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA. He is Program Director for both the Vascular Surgery Fellowship and the Vascular Surgery Residency at the University of Washington. Dr. Starnes became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 2005 and a Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery in 2011. He is a member of the editorial boards of both the Journal of Vascular Surgery and the Annals of Vascular Surgery and is Associate Editor of the Yearbook of Vascular Surgery. Dr. Starnes has been the recipient of many awards and honors. He is the author of some 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals.