title: [Conventional aortic surgery after endovascular aortic reconstruction].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular therapy of aortic aneurysms is an attractive alternative to conventional aortic surgery. A number of patients, however, will fail endovascular therapy and require open surgical repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report our experience with conversion to open aortic repair. Of 306 patients given endovascular therapy for an infrarenal aortic aneurysm, 30 (9.8%) required conversion to conventional repair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients (43.3%) suffered complications, 3 (10%) of which were fatal. Conversion to open aortic repair after endovascular therapy is technically more demanding than primary open repair, particularly because of clamp techniques and stent-extraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergent conversion operations, especially when preceded by significant retroperitoneal bleeding from vascular tears due to endovascular manipulations are complicated by significant morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gefässchirurgie, Klinikum Nürnberg-Süd. cschunn@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schunn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalligianni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hetzel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raithel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D017546:Angioscopy; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D017211:Treatment Failure