title: Obesity is not an independent risk factor for adverse perioperative and long-term clinical outcomes following open AAA repair or EVAR.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Moderate (body mass index [BMI] ≥30) and morbid obesity (BMI ≥35) is increasing at an alarming rate in vascular surgery patients. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of obesity on perioperative and long-term clinical outcomes following open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).
  
  
  METHODS
  This review includes patients that underwent open AAA repair (n = 403) or EVAR (n = 223) from 1999 to 2009. Specific patient characteristics such as comorbid diseases, medications, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Specific perioperative outcomes such as length of stay, myocardial infarctions, and mortality were reviewed. In addition, long-term outcomes such as rates of reintervention, permanent renal dysfunction, and mortality beyond 30 days were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of obesity in open AAA patients was 25.3% (documented incidence 1.5%) and for EVAR was 24.6% (documented incidence 4%). Moderate and morbid obesity was associated with longer intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for both open AAA or EVAR patients (P < .05). However, no significant differences in perioperative outcomes in terms of overall length of stay, myocardial infarction, acute renal failure, wound infections, or mortality were noted between obese and nonobese patients underoing open AAA repair or EVAR (P > .05). Similarly, moderate and morbid obesity was not associated with significant differences in rates of reintervention, permanent renal dysfunction, and mortality beyond 30 days for patients undergoing open AAA repair or EVAR (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that moderate and morbid obesity are not independently associated with adverse perioperative and long-term clinical outcomes for patients undergoing open AAA repair or EVAR. Therefore, either open AAA repair or EVAR can be accomplished safely in moderately obese and morbidly obese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Phong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dargon
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Binette
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Babic
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Divinagracia
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dahn
authors.forename: James O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Menzoian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States