title: Improved long-term survival following infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to investigate early and long-term results following AAA repair during a 20-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand and forty one patients with AAA were treated with open surgery (905) or EVAR (136) during the period 1983-2002. Comorbidity and factors influencing early and long-term results were investigated. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients' medical records. A complete follow-up was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women had a significantly higher 30-day mortality following repair of ruptured AAA than men. The degree of emergency, advancing age and renal failure were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. We observed an improvement in long-term survival during the study period. Time interval of surgery, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, COPD and renal failure influenced long-term survival negatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with ruptured AAA have a higher early mortality than men, which needs to be investigated further. Long-term survival has improved during the study period. Age, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal failure and cerebrovascular insufficiency influenced the long-term survival negatively. EVAR is used to an increasing extent and the results are improving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berge
authors.forename: Erik S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: Pål R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Romundstad
authors.forename: Conrad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Hans O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Myhre
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome