title: Stent grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: Stent grafting for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has been a major advance in endovascular surgery. Initial success with the original endoluminal stent graft encouraged worldwide study of the technology. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) insisted on considerable experience with the devices before approval because of early problems with device rupture, stent fracture, fabric perforation, graft migration, and modular separation. Complications associated with the endovascular graft technology led many to recommend its use only in patients who were considered at "high risk" for the standard, open procedure. Further study and device improvements have led to results that indicate the procedure has the potential to reduce operating time and blood loss and shorten intensive care unit and hospital stays compared with open surgical intervention. At present, there are three FDA-approved devices available for use, and a fourth is expected in 2003. The ultimate decision by the individual practitioner or the institutional team regarding which patients should be treated with endovascular technology is still not entirely straightforward. Patient selection should be based on vascular anatomy, the availability of a suitable device, the patient's desire for a minimally invasive procedure, and a commitment to what is likely to be a lifetime of device surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Heart Institute and Arizona Heart Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85006, USA. ediethrich@azheart.com
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Diethrich
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011788:Quality of Life; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration