title: Abdominal aortic aneurysms: endovascular options and outcomes - proliferating therapy, but effective?
abstract: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has a reported prevalence rate of 1.4% in the US. AAA rupture accounts for an estimated 15,000 deaths per year, rendering it the 10th leading cause of death in men over the age of 55. Endovascular repair (EVR) has proliferated in the last two decades as an increasingly popular alternative to traditional open surgery, and is now the default treatment in the majority of centres worldwide. This review article outlines the evidence supporting this stance. The development of EVR is reviewed, alongside trends in utilisation of this therapy over time. The evidence for the relative short-term and long-term outcomes of EVR and open AAA repair is discussed, and ongoing controversies surrounding the use of EVR are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, St George's Vascular Institute, London. bahia_sandeep@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Sandeep S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bahia
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karthikesalingam
authors.forename: Matt M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000639:trends; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000639:trends; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: AAA; ASA; Abdominal aortic aneurysm; American Society of Anesthesiologists; EVAR; EVR; Endovascular repair; GA; LA; MI; NSQIP; National Surgical Quality Improvement Programme; OR; PTFE; RAAA; RCT; Review; UK; US; United Kingdom; United States; abdominal aortic aneurysm; endovascular aneurysm repair; endovascular repair; general anaesthesia; local anaesthesia; myocardial infarction; open repair; polytetrafluoroethylene; randomised controlled trial; ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm