title: Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) : A Ten-Year Retrospective Study in a Low-Volume Center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated clinical outcomes of EVAR procedures at a low-volume center in Belgium. We also analyzed the time before endoleak appeared.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 77 EVAR procedures performed over 10 years in a low-volume center. Patients were reviewed at intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The deployment of the endograft was successful for 76 of the 77 patients (98.7%). Perioperative mortality was 1.3%. Cardiac infarctus was reported in 5.19% of patients, 1.3% suffered hematoma, 1.3% renal insufficiency, 7.8%-respiratory diseases, and 2.6% strokes. The mortality rate during the first postoperative year was 9% and none of these deaths were AAA related. One endograft thrombosis was reported (1.3%) and there were no cases of endograft migration. Type 1 endoleak occurred in 3.9% of patients, and Type 2 in 22.1%. No other type of endoleak was reported. The mean period before endoleak diagnosis was 9.8 months. Two patients needed to be re-operated for a Type 1 endoleak.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performing EVAR procedures in a low-volume center did not increase morbidity and mortality risks. This is probably because the primary factor is the volume of procedures carried out by the surgeon, rather than the institution. EVAR follow-up is needed to diagnose endoleak, which can appear several months after.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, EpiCURA Hospital, Baudour, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rousié
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Douillez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arend
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arend
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001530:Belgium; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057867:Endoleak / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D061646:Operative Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome