Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair

Volume > Procedure > Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair

Definition

The aorta is the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body passing through the middle to lower abdomen (the area from the chest to the pelvis). An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a balloon-like bulge or weakened area that occurs in the wall of aorta. The larger the aneurysm becomes, the more likely it will burst, leading to life-threatening bleeding and, potentially, death. Surgical repair of the aneurysm prior to rupture is often life-saving.

See information on: How to interpret Volume

Surgeons who performed fewer than ten procedures at acute care Massachusetts hospitals in 2004 (according to administrative data) are not listed by name in the reports. Their volume is included in the total number of procedures performed at each hospital.

The volume by individual surgeon listed on this website will, in some cases, understate a surgeon’s actual volume for that procedure. Surgeons sometimes perform surgery in neighboring states or in VA hospitals and the data shown on this website do not include these hospitals.

In addition, patients sometimes need several surgical procedures during a hospitalization. The volume data showed on this website only report on the first procedure listed on the patient record; therefore if a surgeon performed a procedure that was listed second, third or later on the medical record, the surgeon would not have been credited with performing it.  The surgical volumes listed by hospital are complete.

Additional Information

For abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, substantial published evidence suggests that hospitals that have a higher volume of this surgery have better postoperative outcomes and fewer inpatient deaths resulting from ruptured aneurysms. Research results show that hospitals performing 10 procedures or more is associated with good patient outcomes; performing 32 procedures or more is associated with even better patient outcomes. Hospitals exceeding these thresholds are considered high volume.

Research Studies

Surgeon Volume Indicators  (ICD-9 Codes)