Abstract
Purpose We evaluated the status of vascular disease in our Medical Emergency and Critical Care center over 4 years from the time of its establishment.
Materials and Methods Between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2003, 113 patients with severe vascular disease were treated in our Emergency and Critical Care Center by the same group of cardiovascular surgeons.
Results Severe vascular emergencies accounted for 4.4% of all cases. The number of vascular emergencies increased every year. Ninty six patients were transferred to our center from another hospital and 17 were brought in by ambulance. By disorder, acute Stanford type A aortic dissection was treated surgically in 28 patients and conservatively in 6, with resuscitation attempts in 6; acute Stanford type B aortic dissection was treated surgically in 4, and conservatively in 23; ruptured thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm was treated surgically in 5 patients and conservatively in 4, with resuscitation attempts in 3; ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was treated surgically in 17 and conservatively in 3, with resuscitation attempts in 3; the remaining disorders were treated surgically. Ninty three patients survived and 20 died. Among acute aortic Stanford type A dissection, 33 survived and 7 died; among acute aortic Stanford type B dissection, 24 survived and 3 died; among ruptured thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm, 9 survived and 3 died; among ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, 17 survived and 6 died; and among acute arterial occlusion of the extremity, 8 survived and 1 died. The two other patients survived.
Conclusion The number of patients with severe vascular diseases seen in our Emergency and Critical Care Center was limited in our geographical region. However, the good results were largely attributable to the cooperation of the cardio-vascular surgeons and the paramedics.
