title: Quality of life after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: nellix sac-anchoring endoprosthesis versus open surgery.
abstract: An increasing number of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms are treated using endovascular rather than open surgical techniques. The Vascular Surgery Center, P. Stradins Clinical University Hospital, has the largest worldwide experience using a new type of endoprosthesis, which fills and anchors the device in the aneurysm sac. Within the framework of a clinical trial, the quality-of-life evaluation of patients treated using this type of device was carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study was conducted from 2008 to 2011 comparing the quality of life (QOL) of patients after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with either the new endovascular treatment method (EVAR) or open surgery (OS). Each group comprised 20 patients, and the quality-of life-evaluation was performed using the SF-36 questionnaire before operation, 1 month after operation, and 1 year after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month after operation, an improved QOL was documented in the EVAR group (47 [SD, 3] in the EVAR group vs. 38 [SD, 3] in the OS group, P<0.001). One year after operation, a significant improvement in QOL persisted although the difference between the groups diminished (48 [SD, 4] in the EVAR group vs. 42 [SD, 3] in the OS group, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent EVAR using the new sac-anchoring endoprosthesis have improved health-related quality of life compared to the patients undergoing open surgical repair. The improvement in quality of life remained slightly better in the EVAR group 1 year after operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Latvia. kaspars08@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kaspars
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ķīsis
authors.forename: Dainis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krieviņš
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naškoviča
authors.forename: Mārcis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gediņš
authors.forename: Jānis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Šavlovskis
authors.forename: Natālija
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ezīte
authors.forename: Edvīns
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lietuvietis
authors.forename: Kristaps
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zariņš
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life