title: The first 15 months of transluminal abdominal aortic aneurysm management: a single centre experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the early experience with the transfemorally placed modular endovascular MinTec graft (TPEG) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  One single centre prospective evaluation of the endograft procedure as well as early postoperative results.
  
  
  METHODS
  An academic teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 consecutive patients treated during a period of 15 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peri- and postoperative morbidity and mortality were evaluated according to the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Reporting Standards. The endograft procedure was successful in 28 patients (93.4%); two patients (6.6%) needed conversion into open conventional y-graft replacement; one patient died 36 days following intervention from multiple organ failure. Another patient died from pancreatitis unrelated to the implantation. Endoleaks were treated by "overstenting" or distal extension of the endografts, but conversions were unnecessary. Five severe adverse events were noted in four patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPEG is a feasible but technically demanding procedure, requiring both surgical techniques and catheter skills. The potential for less operative morbidity and simpler aneurysm management compared to conventional open surgery may be present. Close follow-up of patients is necessary to understand the development and treatment of endoleaks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kretschmer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hölzenbein
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lammer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thurnher
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Polterauer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol