title: [Endovascular aneurysm therapy--long-term treatment outcomes after 7 years].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stentgrafts for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) have been commercially available since 1994, with now large numbers of implantations all over the world.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1994-2001, 115 patients were treated with Stentor, Vanguard and Talent stentgrafts in our institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Late complications of the first- and second-generation stentgrafts as radiologic or surgical interventions to maintain complete exclusion of the aneurysm amounted to 30% with an additional 22% for observed endoleaks and configuration changes of the stentgraft. Third-generation stentgrafts had a lower complication rate of 12.2% for interventions and 18.3% for late endoleaks and graft changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High costs of the devices, a pretty high late complication rate, and the uncertain maintenance of stentgraft function to prevent aneurysm rupture currently limit the widespread application of this new technology, leaving conventional aneurysmectomy the standard for aneurysm treatment and reserving the endovascular method for selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Herz-, Thorax- und Gefässchirurgie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. Schmiedt@mail.Uni-Mainz.de
authors.forename: Walther
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmiedt
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Düber
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitton
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neufang
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dorweiler
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herber
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinstadler
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: Balthasar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Espinola-Klein
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thelen
authors.forename: Hellmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oelert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001027:Aortography; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D015607:Stents