New abdominal aortic aneurysm research from R.B. Rutherford and colleagues discussed.

"There are three choices for management of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), ie, endovascular repair (EVAR), open repair (OR), and continuing surveillance (OBS). The treating physician must weigh the risk of no intervention, in terms of ultimate death from rupture, against the more immediate risk associated with either form of repair, considering in the process those risk factors that directly or indirectly relate to outcome," scientists in the United States report (see also Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm).

"These risk factors include AAA size and the patient's comorbidities, age, gender, and AAA anatomy, as well as the skills and experience of the treating physicians and the health care environment in which the patient is treated. While individualization is clearly required, a generalizable platform for decision-making derived from past trials and other pertinent observational studies is also useful," wrote R.B. Rutherford and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "This article attempts to present pertinent background information and develop it into generally applicable guidelines."

Rutherford and colleagues published their study in Seminars in Vascular Surgery (Management of abdominal aortic aneurysms: Which risk factors play a role in decision-making? Seminars in Vascular Surgery, 2008;21(3):124-131).

For more information, contact R.B. Rutherford, 14337 Dorsal St., Corpus Christi, TX 78418, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Seminars in Vascular Surgery is: W B Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc., 1600 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Ste. 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2899, USA.

Keywords: United States, Corpus Christi, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Angiology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Surgery.

This article was prepared by Cardiovascular Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Cardiovascular Week via NewsRx.com.