Surgical Versus Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Evidence to Guide the Optimal Approach for the Individual Patient

The choice between an open surgical and an endovascular approach for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair remains an individualized clinical decision. As the technology and applications of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) continue to evolve, so does the literature investigating its outcomes. Multiple high-quality, randomized controlled trials comparing EVAR to open surgical repair (OSR) have now been published with long-term follow-up. Experience with ruptured aneurysms and the use of complex endografts is growing as well. This review is an up-to-date compilation of pertinent clinical trials for practitioners placed in the context of individual patient considerations to guide the choice of an optimal approach to the management of AAAs.     

Endovascular Repair of a Large Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Using Monitored Anesthesia Care and Local Anesthesia

Over the last decade, there has been a paradigm shift in the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) from open repair to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Regardless of the method used during emergent rupture, open verses endovascular repair, the overall mortality remains high. Recent studies have compared patient outcomes using different types of anesthesia during elective EVAR procedures. The data show that during an elective EVAR, monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with local anesthesia is not only just as safe as general anesthesia, but it offers other potential benefits as well. There is limited data in regards to patient outcomes using MAC and local anesthesia during cases of large ruptured aneurysms that are treated with EVAR. This case report discusses the treatment of a patient who presented with a large 13 cm ruptured AAA which was successfully repaired using EVAR with MAC and local anesthesia.     

Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) in the geriatric population

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a relatively common pathology among the elderly. More people above the age of 80 will have to undergo treatment of an AAA in the future. This review aims to summarize the literature focusing on endovascular repair of AAA in the geriatric population. A systematic review of the literature was performed, including results from endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) registries and studies comparing open repair and EVAR in those above the age of 80. A total of 15 studies were identified. EVAR in this population is efficient with a success rate exceeding 90% in all cases, and safe, with early mortality and morbidity being superior among patients undergoing EVAR against open repair. Late survival can be as high as 95% after 5 years. Aneurysm-related death over long-term follow-up was low after EVAR, ranging from 0 to 3.4%. Endovascular repair can be offered safely in the geriatric population and seems to compare favourably with open repair in all studies in the literature to date.     

Endovascular Treatment versus Open Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: The Influence of Fitness in Decision Making

Two methods of repair are currently available for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), open aneurysm repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The decision making depends on the balance of risks and benefits. The treating physician must take into account the patient''s life expectancy, the patient''s fitness, the anatomic suitability that makes endovascular repair possible, and finally the patient''s preference. The patient''s fitness is an important variable predicting the outcome of AAA surgical reconstruction. The hypothesis is that the impact of risk factors upon perioperative mortality might differ between patients undergoing open repair and endovascular repair. The purpose of this review article is to investigate whether fitter patients with a large AAA benefit more from having endovascular rather than open repair. According to the available data, there is emerging evidence that patients at high medical risk for open repair may benefit from EVAR while in low risk patients with suitable anatomy for EVAR, both techniques have similar effects. There is rising evidence that a patient with ruptured AAA would benefit more from an endovascular procedure if eligible, and thus fitness in such emergencies is not the first priority but anatomical suitability for EVAR.     

腹主动脉瘤开放手术和腔内修复术的短期随访研究

目的:比较腹主动脉瘤(AAA)腔内修复术(EVAR)和开放手术(OR),术后6个月内的疗效。方法:选择同时满足OR和EVAR手术条件的AAA患者共100例,随机分配接受OR或EVAR手术,随访至术后6个月,记录分析两组术中情况、病死率、全身并发症及手术相关并发症。结果:至术后6个月,仅OR组死亡1例,两组病死率差异无统计学意义。EVAR组中位手术时间更短、出血量及输血量更少(P<0.05)。EVAR组患者可以更早出院,但是花费也远高于OR组(P<0.05)。EVAR组围术期全身并发症发生率略低于OR组(16.4%vs.20.5%),但手术相关并发症高于OR组(29.5%vs.12.8%),差异无统计学意义。随访至术后6个月,两组各项并发症情况差异无统计学意义。结论:对于AAA来说,OR与EVAR手术都是安全有效的治疗方法。EVAR手术在围术期显示出微创手术的优势。     

Impact of randomized trials comparing conventional and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair on clinical practice.

PURPOSE: To report a retrospective study into the effects of trials on clinical decision-making regarding abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients suitable for both conventional open (OR) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 1400 Dutch surgeons and trainees. Interviewees had to choose between OR and EVAR for AAA patients with and without comorbidity. Specifically, their preferences before and after the publication of 2 randomized trials (EVAR-1 and DREAM) were polled. RESULTS: Of the 524 (37%) questionnaires returned, 223 (43%) respondents treated AAA patients. Before publication of the trials, 160 (72%) preferred OR for the patient without comorbidity and 169 (76%) preferred EVAR for the patient with comorbidity. In total, 72 (32%) respondents changed their preference after the trials were published; however, there was no overall major shift. Focusing on the different cases revealed that the OR preference was significantly enhanced for the patient without comorbidity (p<0.01), while the EVAR preference was significantly enhanced for the patient with comorbidity (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The randomized trials have not induced major overall changes in surgical decision-making for AAA patients suitable for both EVAR and OR.     

Lack of an effective drug therapy for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is a common cause of death in adults. Current AAA treatment is by open surgical or endovascular aneurysm repair. Rodent model and human epidemiology, and genetic and observational studies over the last few decades have highlighted the potential of a number of drug therapies, including medications that lower blood pressure, correct dyslipidaemia, or inhibit thrombosis, inflammation or matrix remodelling, as approaches to managing small AAA. This review summarizes prior AAA pathogenesis data from animal and human studies aimed at identifying targets for the development of drug therapies. The review also systematically assesses past randomized placebo‐controlled drug trials in patients with small AAAs. Eleven previously published randomized‐controlled clinical trials testing different drug therapies aimed at slowing AAA progression were identified. Five of the trials tested antibiotics and three trials assessed medications that lower blood pressure. Meta‐analyses of these trials suggested that neither of these approaches limit AAA growth. Allocation to blood pressure‐lowering medication was associated with a small reduction in AAA rupture or repair, compared to placebo (relative risk 0.94, 95% confidence intervals 0.89, 1.00, P = 0.047). Three further trials assessed the effect of a mast cell inhibitor, fibrate or platelet aggregation inhibition and reported no effect on AAA growth or clinical events. Past trials were noted to have a number of design issues, particularly small sample sizes and limited follow‐up. Much larger trials are needed to properly test potential therapeutic approaches if a convincingly effective medical therapy for AAA is to be identified.     

Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms: State of the art

Opinion statement  Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) continue to be a leading cause of death, with increasing incidence and prevalence. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) now represents the most common method of AAA repair in the United States. Ongoing improvements in endovascular stent-graft technology have occurred since the first published report of EVAR in 1991. These improvements have led to multiple US Food and Drug Administration-approved devices, streamlined operative techniques, and extended applicability of EVAR. Despite these facts, basic anatomic considerations still eliminate many patients from being offered EVAR. Distinct advantages of EVAR over open repair have been demonstrated, including a less invasive operative exposure, decreased transfusion requirements, shortened intensive care unit and hospital stay, and decreased perioperative mortality. It is our opinion that in 2009, anatomically suitable patients should be offered EVAR as first-line therapy, except for the less common scenario of the young and fit patient, for which open repair should be strongly considered. Use of EVAR for ruptured AAAs also has shown promise, yielding survival results commensurate with the best single-center results with open repair for rupture. However, questions remain regarding the long-term efficacy of EVAR in preventing aneurysm-related death for all patients treated with this technique. As device improvements and technical advances continue, it is reasonable to expect that long-term results will improve as well. Furthermore, the advent of fenestrated and multi-branch endograft technology is expanding indications, and will continue to enlarge the percentage of patients who will be considered acceptable candidates for EVAR. Lastly, randomized clinical trials are under way to determine whether the generally accepted threshold of 5.5 cm for elective open AAA repair should be decreased in patients who are candidates for EVAR. Until further data emerge, standard guidelines for elective aneurysm repair should remain the norm.     

A Modified Technique of Open Surgical Treatment for Aneurysmal Sac Enlargement after Endovascular Repair

IntroductionAlthough several articles have reported the successful treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) enlargement after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) due to endoleak or endotension, the strategy to treat this type of complication is still controversial.ReportWe report three cases of AAA expansion after EVAR. When other endovascular approaches were not considered effective, we performed a modified open surgical treatment.DiscussionThis technique includes ligation of all branched vessels arising from the aneurismal sac, plication of the aneurysm and wrapping of the aneurysm using bio-prosthetic material instead of explanting the implanted endovascular graft.     

Critical aortic stenosis in a patient with a large saccular abdominal aortic aneurysm

Elderly patients with aortic stenosis are often deemed too high risk, and consequently turned down for conventional surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a safe and an increasingly attractive option in this group of patients. Although TAVI has been shown to be successful and safe, the cardiovascular assessment of other co‐morbidities in this susceptible group of patients is critical to ensuring good clinical outcomes. The presence of a saccular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in our patient was an example of an important co‐morbidity which could have a significant impact on the outcome of TAVI, if not managed appropriately. The increased systolic pressure post successful TAVI will result in an increased strain within the wall of the saccular AAA with an increased risk of rupture. Therefore, a timely management strategy for the AAA was necessary. We believe that we report the first case of simultaneous TAVI and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The patient underwent uncomplicated transfemoral TAVI immediately followed by successful drive‐by percutaneous EVAR delivered over the same superstiff guidewire via the transfemoral route. Our case highlights the importance of a detailed assessment in all patients before consideration for TAVI, and the multi‐disciplinary team and a management strategy for both pathologies tailored to the patient. The case demonstrates the versatility of trans‐catheter techniques which has enabled the treatment of aortic stenosis and abdominal AAA in a single procedure. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Therapie des abdominalen Aortenaneurysmas

The treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has changed significantly since the introduction of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). In terms of perioperative morbidity and mortality, randomized multicenter trials revealed results in favour of EVAR compared to open reconstruction. However, EVAR is associated with possible late complications caused by endoleaks, stent migration, kinking and/or overstenting of side branches, making life-long follow-up necessary. Since the majority of patients requiring therapy are elderly and exhibit attendant comorbidities, EVAR has become the procedure of choice in those patients with favourable anatomy. Medicamentous and conservative treatment may be relevant in patients with small to medium-sized aneurysms. Since smoking is one of the major risk factors for the development of AAA, all patients should be advised to stop smoking. Studies on long-term statin therapy in patients following surgical AAA repair showed a reduction in both overall and cardiovascular mortality; AAA patients should therefore receive statins for secondary prevention.     

Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair by Interventional Cardiologists—A Community‐Based Experience

Introduction: Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a relatively recent technology. In comparison to the conventional open surgical treatment for AAA, endovascular AAA repair (EVAR) combines a less‐invasive approach with lower morbidity and mortality. There have been few studies regarding the performance of this procedure in a community‐based setting. We report our experience of EVAR performed primarily by interventional cardiologists in a community hospital. Methods: In our community hospital setting, between September 2005 and November 2007, we included all patients who underwent EVAR by interventional cardiologists, with available on‐site vascular surgical support. Clinical and serial computed angiographic imaging outcomes were followed by a retrospective chart review. Data collection tools included demographic and clinical characteristics, anatomical aneurysm features, length of stay, peri‐ and postprocedural complications, and mortality. Results: A total of 71 consecutive patients had EVAR attempted. The endovascular stent placement was successful in 67 (93%) patients. Thirty‐day mortality in this study was 1 of 71 (1.4%). All four procedural failures and the single periprocedural mortality occurred in women. Mean follow‐up was 12 months. There were a total of six mortalities and among these four were women (P ≤ 0.001); however, multivariate analysis revealed loss of significant difference in mortality (P = 0.16). Major complications following EVAR were noted in 10 of 71 (14%) patients. Conclusion: EVAR can be successfully performed by experienced interventional cardiologists with vascular surgical support in a community‐based setting. In our experience, there is acceptable rate of complications and mortality in a carefully selected patient population. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:485–490)     

Endotension following endovascular aneurysm repair

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a new and minimally invasive alternative to open repair for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Soon after its introduction in 1990, it was recognized that EVAR had potential and distinct advantages in the elective and emergency settings. However, long-term follow-up has shown enlargement of the AAA in a substantial percentage of patients who underwent EVAR with the original-permeability Excluder. Of interest is that sac expansion frequently occurs in the absence of endoleak, often referred to as endotension. The pathophysiology of endoleak is beginning to be elucidated and its management is ready to be established, while controversy still exists about the etiology and clinical consequences of endotension. Fortunately, the incidence of endotension is decreasing and it appears that AAA expansion after EVAR with the original Excluder can be arrested by endovascular relining with a low-permeability Excluder endoprosthesis. The aim of this brief review is to provide historical perspective and a good understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, and management of endotension.     

Endografting increases total volume of AAA repairs but not at the expense of open surgery: experience in more than 1000 patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the volume of open graft replacements (OGR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) versus endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVAR) over time and after modifying selection criteria. METHODS: A review was conducted of 1021 consecutive patients who underwent AAA repair from 1989 through 2002: 496 elective OGRs for infrarenal AAAs (STANDARD), 289 elective EVARs for infrarenal AAAs, 59 complex OGRs for suprarenal AAAs, and 177 emergent OGRs for ruptured AAAs. Patients from 1995 to 2002 were divided into 2 groups based on shifting treatment strategies; 454 patients were treated by STANDARD or EVAR at the surgeon's discretion between 1995 and 2000 (post EVAR). The second group comprised 161 patients treated in 2001-2002 after the introduction of "high-risk" screening criteria (age > or = 72 years, diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, impaired pulmonary function, or ASA class IV) that dictated EVAR whenever anatomically feasible. For comparison, 170 STANDARD repairs performed in the 6 years prior to EVAR served as a control. RESULTS: While surgery for ruptured AAAs remained fairly stable over the 14-year period, the number of patients undergoing elective repair increased due to the implementation of EVAR. During the 6 years after its introduction, EVAR averaged 34.3 patients per year; after 2001, the annual frequency of EVAR increased to 41.5 (p > 0.05). In like fashion, the rate of STANDARD repairs increased to 41.3 patients per year versus 28.3 before EVAR (p = 0.032). ASA class IV patients increased by almost 9 fold in the recent period versus pre EVAR (p = 0.006). The overall mortality after elective infrarenal AAA repair decreased between the pre and post EVAR periods (6.5% versus 3.7%, p > 0.05) and fell still further to 1.2% in the most recent period (p = 0.021 versus pre EVAR). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an EVAR program increases the total volume of AAA repairs but does not reduce open surgical procedures. By allocating patients to EVAR or open repair based their risk factors, mortality was markedly reduced.     

The importance of and current trends in the endovascular program – A single center experience

IntroductionOpen vascular surgery and endovascular (EV) interventions are continually developing and their application differs depending on the arterial regions treated. We aim to demonstrate that current EV procedures do not mean a restriction, but on the contrary, an increase in the number of patients who can be successfully treated.MethodsWe have retrospectively followed all open surgery procedures and endovascular interventions done for carotid artery stenosis and subrenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) from 1990/1993 to 2014 in the Vascular Surgery Department at Na Homolce Hospital.ResultsFrom 1990 to 2014, 1659 open AAA surgery procedures were done in our department. Since 1996, 1023 endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs (EVAR) have been performed and since the implementation of robotics, 64 aneurysm replacements were robot-assisted. Mortality rates in the OS, EVAR and robotic groups are 1.7%, 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively. The percentage of EVAR stabilized during the last 5 years at about 32% of the total number of treated patients. From 1993 to 2014 there were 5363 open carotid surgery procedures done in our department, 2856 for symptomatic and 2507 for asymptomatic stenosis. The total cohort combined stroke/death rate was 1.6%. Symptomatic, asymptomatic and urgently operated patients had a combined 30-day stroke/death rate of 1.0%, 1.7% and 4.4%, respectively. During the same period 274 carotid bifurcation and 55 common carotid artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) were done. The technical success of endovascular interventions was better than 95%.ConclusionIn the AAA group, the percentage of EVAR stabilized during the last 5 years at about 32% of the total number of treated patients. Given the excellent results of open carotid surgery and the unconvincing results of stenting trials, we consider open carotid surgery to be better than carotid artery primary stenting.     

Current Endovascular Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Fatal rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains a feared complication. Development of vascular surgery techniques over 50 years ago has fulfilled the promise of preventing rupture, but the significant morbidity associated with open repair causes physicians and their older patients pause. With the advent of less invasive endovascular techniques and devices, patients now have another viable treatment option. We review some of the important trials as well as discuss developments in the continually evolving field of endovascular repair of AAAs.     

High aneurysm wall enhancement values are associated with late sac shrinkage after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

To analyze the correlation between aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) values and early and late sac shrinkage after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).We retrospectively analyzed 28 patients who underwent EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) using a bifurcated main body stent graft. The value of AWE in the slice of the maximum AAA diameter was measured using a volumetric analysis of computed tomography images. Sac measurements before EVAR and more than 10 months after EVAR were compared, and the maximum sac shrinkage rate was calculated.The AWE value immediately after (4 to 7 days) EVAR correlated positively with the sac shrinkage rate (R² = 0.0139). The AWE value at 6 months after EVAR was also strongly correlated with the sac shrinkage rate (R² = 0.4982).Higher AWE values at 6 months after EVAR were strongly associated with the sac volume shrinkage rate. High AWE values may be a predictive factor for sac shrinkage and may aid in the selection of the appropriate clinical strategy after EVAR.     

Late aneurysm rupture after repressurization of a thrombosed stent-graft.

PURPOSE: To report late abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture after endovascular stent-graft repair despite complete thrombotic stent-graft occlusion. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old man underwent successful endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with a Stentor device in 1995. In the interim course, the patient developed complete thrombotic stent-graft occlusion, which was treated with an axillobifemoral bypass. After 8 years, the patient presented with a reperfused and ruptured infrarenal AAA. Open repair was performed, with a good clinical result and exclusion of the AAA. CONCLUSION: Thrombosed stent-grafts and aneurysms can transmit systemic arterial pressure and cause late rupture. Lifelong surveillance is mandatory in EVAR patients.     

A novel 14F endograft for abdominal aortic aneurysm: First in man

Objective : This study evaluated the feasibility of percutaneous endovascular treatment of infra‐renal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) using the novel low profile modular Tripelay system (Tripelay, France). Background : Endovascular aortic aneurysm treatment (EVAR) has become more widely used as early mortality has been significantly reduced. Also, percutaneous access has become possible with the introduction of vascular closure devices and with the initial reduction in size of delivery catheters. However, percutaneous access is not commonly used and anatomical considerations, such as access vessel size and tortuousities, preclude a number of patients from being efficiently treated with EVAR. Methods : The novel Tripelay system enables two semicircular preshaped self‐expandable stentgrafts to be positioned side by side on the aneurysm neck extending into the iliac arteries. Each stentgraft being smaller than the target vessel diameter, the delivery catheter is reduced in size (14F) and accommodates with smaller and more tortuous access vessels than conventional devices. This device was used to treat a 57‐year‐old male patient with significant comorbidities (previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and abdominal surgeries, smoking, hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia). Percutaneous access was made on both femoral arteries. The device was inserted, positioned, and deployed as planned. Iliac extensions were used bilaterally. Results : The EVAR procedure was performed successfully, and the patient was discharged on day 6. Follow‐up computed tomography scans at 1, 6, and 12 months revealed perfect exclusion of the aneurysm sac, patent stentgraft, and vessels, and no prosthesis migration, endoleaks or stent fracture were observed. The patient remained asymptomatic and reported no adverse events during that period. Conclusion : The Tripelay system seemed as an effective and user friendly tool for treatment of AAAs. Of course, this procedure still needs further clinical evaluation with more cases and longer follow‐up to confirm long‐term efficacy and safety of this device. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Candidates and major determinants for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in Korean patients

The purpose of this study was to determine what proportion of patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) would be eligible for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and to examine the major determinants for suitability of EVAR with the currently available indications. We retrospectively reviewed 3-D reconstructed computed tomography angiography of 88 patients with an atherosclerotic AAA who underwent open repair or EVAR between October 2003 and October 2010 at the Cardiovascular Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Of the 88 patients, 71 (80.7%) were treated with open repair and 17 (19.3%) were treated with EVAR. The rate of minor complications, postprocedural intensive care unit stay, and total hospital stay were significantly lower in the EVAR group. When the suitability of EVAR was reevaluated using morphologic criteria, a total of 33 (37.5%) patients were considered eligible for EVAR. Multivariate analysis revealed that proximal neck length, proximal neck angle, and aneurismal sac size were independent determinants for suitability of EVAR. Taking into account the increased clinical experience and the availability of new devices, EVAR would be applicable in about 40% of atherosclerotic AAA cases in this series of Korean patients. Accurate identification of candidates for EVAR by detailed preoperative evaluation, especially for morphologic characteristics, is essential.