Oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease does not prohibit aortic aneurysm repair

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 178; no. 2; pp. 125 - 128
• Main Authors: Eskandari, Mark K, Rhee, Robert Y, Steed, David L, Webster, Marshall W, Muluk, Satish C, Trachtenberg, Jeffrey D, Hoffman, Robert M, Makaroun, Michel S
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.1999; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aged; Aorta; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - pathology; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - surgery; Aortic aneurysms; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Dioxide - blood; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Contraindications; Critical Care; Elective Surgical Procedures; Epidural; Extubation; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume - physiology; Home Care Services; Hospitalization; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Length of Stay; Lung diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - complications; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - physiopathology; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - therapy; Male; Medical records; Medical sciences; Morbidity; Mortality; Obstructive lung disease; Oxygen; Oxygen - blood; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Patient care planning; Patients; Perioperative care; Pneumonia; Respiratory failure; Retrospective Studies; Safety; Spirometry; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Survival Rate; Time Factors; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels; Vital Capacity - physiology; Human; Lung disease; Oxygen; Respiratory disease; Aneurysm; Cardiovascular disease; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Concomitant disease; Chronic; Treatment; Surgery; Dependence; Bronchus disease; Aorta; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Severe; Aortic disease
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9610(99)00130-0

Background: Severe oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered by many to be a contraindication to open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. We reviewed our own experience with this patient population. Methods: From July 1995 to March 1999, 14 consecutive patients limited by home oxygen-dependent COPD underwent elective open infrarenal AAA repair. Their medical records were reviewed. Results: The mean aortic aneurysm size was 6.3 cm. The mean PaO 2 = 70 mm Hg, PaCO 2 = 45 mm Hg, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1) = 34% of predicted, and forced vital capacity (FVC) = 67% of predicted. All 14 patients were extubated within 24 hours, mean length of hospital stay was 5.9 days, and there were no perioperative deaths. Conclusions: Severe home oxygen-dependent COPD is not a contraindication to safe elective open AAA repair.