Implications of ITU bed non-availability and the centralisation of vascular services in the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Current U.K. practice

Abstract

Mortality from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) correlates with time to aortic clamping. Intervention is often delayed by the need to transfer the patient to a tertiary centre due to the nonavailability of a vascular surgeon or, increasingly, the lack of an intensive therapy unit (ITU) bed at the receiving centre. We have used a postal survey to investigate current practice in the management of RAAA in the U.K. in these circumstances.