title: Endovascular stent-graft placement versus conventional open surgery in infrarenal aortic aneurysm: a prospective study on acute phase response and clinical outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For the treatment of aortic aneurysm, stent-graft implantation is an alternative method to open surgery. There is no study comparing both methods with regard to endotoxaemia, the acute phase cascade, and clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, we enrolled 40 patients (34 males, 6 females; mean age 72.1+/-7.5 [58-92] years) with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent aortic surgery. Comparable groups of patients were treated with open (n=20) or endovascular (n=20) stent-graft implantation. To characterize the inflammatory response, plasma levels of endotoxin, endotoxin-neutralizing capacity (ENC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count were determined. In all patients, measurements were performed on admission, skin suture, 4 h and from the first to fifth postoperative day. As parameters for the clinical outcome, we assessed daily temperature, lung function, pain, duration of postoperative hospital stay, and morbidity. Wilcoxon rank test was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, a significant increase of endotoxin plasma levels and a decrease of ENC was found already after skin incision. IL-6 levels peaked 4 h postoperatively in both groups, whereas CRP rose at the first postoperative day, reaching a maximum at day 2. Conventionally operated patients had significantly higher plasma levels of endotoxin, IL-6, and CRP and lower ENC during and after surgery than patients with stent-graft implantation. Moreover, patients with endovascular stent grafting had significant less postoperative pain, less restriction of total vital capacity, a shorter hospital stay, and a lower morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular stent grafting of infrarenal aortic aneurysm seems to be superior not only in terms of the inflammatory response but also in overall clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Ulm, Steinhövelstrasse 9, 89075 Ulm, Germany. eboelke@aol.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bölke
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jehle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Storck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schams
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinbach
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Görich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scharrer-Pamler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sunder-Plassmann
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein