Comparison of transferred and direct RAAA patients upon presentation
| Characteristics | Group; mean (and range)* | p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct group (n = 24) | Transfer group (n = 57) | ||
| Age, yr | 74 (56–86) | 74 (54–88) | ns |
| Men, no. (%) | 19 (79) | 40 (70) | ns |
| SBP, mm Hg | 131 (65–145) | 123 (60–150) | ns |
| Hemoglobin | 120 (80–135) | 102 (72–121) | ns |
| Cardiac signs, no. (%)† | 12 (52) | 29 (53) | ns |
| Respiratory signs, no. (%)‡ | 3 (13) | 12 (21) | ns |
| ECG, no. (%)§ | 10 (48) | 31 (56) | ns |
| Transfusion during transfer, units | — | 1.4 (0–4) | — |
| Intubated during transfer, no. (%) | — | 14 (25) | — |
| POSSUM score | 56.22 (44–78) | 60.47 (48–73) | ns |
ECG = electrocardiogram, ns = not statistically significant, POSSUM = physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity, RAAA = ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, SBP = systolic blood pressure.
↵* Unless otherwise indicated.
↵† Cardiac signs include hypertension, congestive heart failure, angina and arrhythmia requiring anticoagulation.
↵‡ Respiratory signs include obstructive or restrictive lung diseases.
↵§ Abnormal ECG includes atrial fibrillation, other abnormal rhythms or evidence of ischemia or previous myocardial infarction.