title: A change in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One of the most exciting potential applications of percutaneous therapy is the treatment of abdominal aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 230 patients treated with a self-expanding polyester-lined stent-graft for different aortic pathologies at our institution, we selected 80 abdominal aneurysm cases undergoing treatment (from May 1997 to December 2002). The stent was introduced through the femoral artery, in the hemodynamic laboratory, with the patient under general anesthesia, with systemic heparinization, and induced hypotension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was successful in 70 (92.9%) cases; 10 patients with exclusion of abdominal aortic aneurysms were documented immediately within the hemodynamic room and 5 patients persisted with a residual leak. Two surgical conversions were necessary. Additional stent-grafts had to be inserted in 3 (3.7%) cases. In the follow-up, 91.4% of patients were alive at a mean follow-up of 15.8 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that stent-grafts are an important tool in improving the treatment of abdominal aneurysms, and this new policy may change the conventional medical management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Jhpalma.dcir@epm.br
authors.forename: José Honório
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Abner Moreira
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Claudia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues Alves
authors.forename: José Augusto de Marcondes
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Enio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buffolo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome