Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the United Kingdom: an exemplar for the role of anaesthetists in perioperative medicine

The past two decades have seen an increasing recognition that the delivery of safe surgery with low complication rates and good long-term outcomes is a team endeavour embracing the whole patient care pathway. The key role of the anaesthetist in managing the patient through the surgical process is widely understood and has driven the emergence of perioperative medicine. In parallel with these developments there has been a sea change in the organisation of the care of patients presenting for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Data from the 2008 report of the VASCUNET vascular registry suggested that the UK had the highest mortality for elective open AAA repair in Europe (7.9%). In response, a national quality improvement programme (AAAQIP) spanning the disciplines of surgery, anaesthesia, radiology and nursing was put in place. This led to significant changes in all aspects of AAA repair including the role of the anaesthetist. Preoperative assessment by an anaesthetist with a vascular practice was mandated and the role of the anaesthetist in the vascular multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) established. Anaesthetic data were included in the national data collection system for vascular surgery, the National Vascular Registry. These changes paralleled and in some cases led the wider evolution of the role of the anaesthetist in perioperative medicine. The mortality from infrarenal AAA repair in the UK decreased to 2.4% by 2012. This improvement reflects changes in perioperative care supported and in some cases led by anaesthetists.