This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS
Meta‐analysis of postoperative mortality after elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms detected by screening. BJS 2011; 98: 619-622.
Published: 4th March 2011
Authors: J. S. Lindholt, P. E. Norman
Background
The aim of this study was to compare the mortality rate within 30 days of elective surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in men randomized to an invitation for ultrasound screening with that of men in the control group, whose aneurysms were detected incidentally.
Method
Relevant reports from randomized trials of screening were identified through a systematic search of MEDLINE. Four relevant trials were identified, and supplemented with data from the Viborg Vascular screening trial. Data were updated in two studies. Meta‐analysis was undertaken with effects calculated as a fixed odds ratio (OR) with 95 per cent confidence interval. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed by the χ2 test.
Results
There were 25 deaths (2·9 per cent) following elective surgery in 858 men invited for screening compared with 21 (5·5 per cent) of 383 in the control group (OR 0·49, 0·27 to 0·88). There were 18 deaths (2·4 per cent) following elective surgery for 747 screen‐detected AAAs compared with 28 (6·1 per cent) following elective repair of 459 incidentally detected aneurysms (OR 0·37, 0·20 to 0·68).
Conclusion
The offer of screening identifies men whose early survival following elective AAA repair is better than that of men with an AAA detected incidentally. Copyright © 2011 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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