title: Endovascular versus open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm: a comparison of early and intermediate results in patients suitable for both techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess early and intermediate results of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR), and to compare them with open surgery (OS) in concurrent patients suitable for both types of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 3 years, 180 patients with AAA underwent repair. We excluded patients with ruptured aneurysms (33), juxtarenal aneurysms (11), iliac aneurysms (8), with peripheral embolization (2) and those treated with a cryopreserved homograft (2). From the remaining patients (n=124), we selected those suitable for both techniques (n=83), of which 53 were treated by EVAR and 30 by OS. Analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Log Rank tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hospital mortality was not significantly higher in the OS group (6.6% OS vs. 3.7% EVAR), p=0.55. The EVAR group had significantly shorter operative time, length of hospital stay and less blood loss. The median follow up time was 2.18 years for OR and 1.58 years for EVAR. There were no conversions from EVAR to OS and no differences in late survival (p=0.255, Cox regression analysis) with a cumulative survival rate at 3 years of 89% for EVAR and 73% for OS. By 3 years 24% (95% CI, 11-47%) of EVAR patients had presented endoleaks with an endovascular re-intervention rate of 27% (95% CI, 13-50%). One patient in the OS group needed a late open intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVAR compares favourably with OS in terms of reduction of operative time, hospital length of stay and blood loss. This study did not show a difference in early or late mortality. EVAR durability remains the most critical issue to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institut of Cardiovascular Diseases, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. cgarciam@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Madrid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Josa
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Riambau
authors.forename: C-A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mestres
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muntaña
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017543:Iliac Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013030:Spain; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures