title: Should endovascular repair be used for small abdominal aortic aneurysms?
abstract: The outcomes of endovascular repair for small abdominal aortic aneurysm (4.0-4.9 cm) is reported. All patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair between 2000 and 2006 with maximal diameter 4.0 to 4.9 cm form the small aneurysm study cohort. Data were analyzed retrospectively and life-table methods were used. Of 743 endovascular repairs, 132 (17.8%) were performed for small abdominal aortic aneurysm. Perioperative complication rate was 9.1%. Freedom from aneurysm expansion was 96% at 1 year, 86% at 3 years, and 77% at 5 years. Overall survival was 98%, 93%, and 84% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Perioperative 30-day mortality was 0.8% with an aneurysm-related mortality of 1.5% at 5 years. There were no deaths from delayed aneurysm rupture. Endovascular repair of small abdominal aortic aneurysm is associated with low perioperative morbidity and mortality compared with published results for open repair, and treatment threshold can be reduced to 4 cm in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0012, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: LeCroy
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Passman
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Bart R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Combs
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome