Characterization of a group of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

Introduction: the behavior of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta arouses great interest at present in the scientific community, before the complications that usually go along with it. Objective: to characterize the behavior of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. Method: a descriptive, prospective, observational study was conducted in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm treated at Abel Santamaria Cuadrado General Teaching Hospital, between 2013 and 2014. A sample of 46 patients was intentionally chosen from the target group of 67 patients, satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis of the clinical records allowed collecting the information in order to analyze the variables. Medical ethical principles were met. Results: men predominated (89,1 %), the age group (50-59 years old) it was the 34,8 %, and individuals with an initial diameter of less than four centimeters (47,8 %), being found as 39,1 %; which presented a slowdown in growth during the reassessment. Smoking and high blood pressure were the main vascular risk factors; a greater slowing of the growth was verified when controlling smoking (80,8 %), higher of those with hypertension (56,8 %). Only 13,0 % required surgical intervention, being almost exclusive in those with an initial diameter greater than five centimeters (50 %). Conclusions: given the complexity of this condition, every patient should be carefully studied, and periodically monitored, in order to reassess the state of the aneurysmal sac, control of the modifiable risk factors that act on it, as well as the need for timely surgical treatment.