title: Clinical efficacy of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has come into use and been widely extended because of the low complication rate and less-invasiveness. This article aimed to describe our experience in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm with EVAR.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted for the 22 patients who underwent EVAR in a single hospital December 2001 to June 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 68.5±7.6 years. There were several risk factors and comorbidities in 20 patients (90.9%). The mean diameter of the aortic aneurysms was 61.2±12.9 mm. The mean length, diameter, and angle of the aneurysmal neck were 30.5±15.5 mm, 24.0±4.5 mm, and 43.9±16.0°, respectively. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 28.8±29.5 months. The 30-day postoperative mortality was none. Seven patients (31.8%) had endoleaks during the hospital stay and three patients (13.6%) had endoleaks during the follow-up period. One patient (4.5%) died due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm. The cumulative patient survival rates were 88.2%, 88.2%, and 70.6% at 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVAR is currently a safe, feasible procedure for high risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm because of low postoperative complication and mortality if patients are selected properly and followed up carefully.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Su
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Sung Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Chungwon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo Yeong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sangpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim