Overview

Symptomatic non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (snrAAA) remain a clinical challenge due to limited evidence and heterogeneous definitions and management strategies. Unlike ruptured AAAs, snrAAA lack large-scale population-based studies, primarily due to inconsistent application of standardised medical classifications (e.g., ICD-10) and international variability in definitions, diagnostic approaches, and treatment protocols. Optimal diagnostic pathways, preoperative risk assessments, and treatment strategies remain poorly defined, with minimal guidance from existing guidelines.

This study aims to conduct a multinational cross-sectional online survey with optional retrospective validation to assess current opinions on an institutional scale regarding the definition and management of patients with snrAAA in Europe. All European vascular centres offering elective and emergency AAA repair are eligible to participate. Multiple survey entries from the same institution are not allowed. Centres are also invited to participate in a retrospective observational validation, reporting diagnostic and therapeutic details of their last five snrAAA cases.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Last 5 patients (aged >18 years) treated at a participating centre for symptomatic non-ruptured AAA (or the last patients in the preceding 5 years if they have treated less than 5 patients in 5 years)

Exclusion Criteria:

• None