title: A retrospective study on short-term results with straight graft vs. bifurcated graft in abdominal aortic aneurysms: a single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this paper was to compare in a retrospective study the outcome of aortoaortic graft (straight graft) versus aortoiliac graft (bifurcated graft) with regards to periprocedural and 30-day after surgery complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2004 to December 2009 377 patients underwent elective open surgery for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Data were collected in a dedicated database. Group A includes patients treated with straight graft (N.=186) whereas group B, patients treated with bifurcated graft (N.=191). Outcome data include duration of surgical procedure, blood loss, peri- and postprocedural complications, hospital stay, 30-day mortality and complications. Following some authors, we set our cut-off for choosing a bifurcated graft when one or both Iliac Arteries were wider than 18 mm in diameter and the patient had a reasonable life expectancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Duration of surgical procedure was 183 minutes in the group A vs. 216 minutes in the group B (P<0.01). Blood loss was 554 mL and 720 mL, in the groups A and B respectively (P<0.01). The difference between other results evaluated was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In statistics terms, this retrospective study showed no relevant differences between straight graft and bifurcated graft with regard to mortality and major complications during the peri- and postoperatory period. Hence, as a conclusion, we could assert that if the iliac artery diameter is 18 mm a bifurcated graft could be used, without any increase in morbidity and mortality rates.
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy - debora.musio@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musio
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gazzola
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cafueri
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spinella
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.affiliation: Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Martino-IST University Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Palombo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D016208:Databases, Factual; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017543:Iliac Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome