What are the complications of open surgical repair of AAA aneurysms?
1. Immediate
- Haemorrhage
- Distal limb embolisation (trash foot)
- Distal limb arterial thrombosis
2. Early
- Spinal cord ischaemia
- Acute sigmoid colon ischaemia (mesenteric)
- Acute renal failure, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident
3. Late
- False aneurysm formation
- Graft infection
- Aorto-duodenal fistula formation
- Impotence
Note: Patients may have a lumbar drain inserted with a AAA repair to reduce risk of spinal ischaemia.