The decline of open abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery among individual training programs and vascular surgery trainees

ObjectiveIn the past decade, treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has dramatically shifted from open repair to an endovascular approach. The decreasing number of open AAA repairs (OAR) has raised concerns regarding future vascular surgeons' competence to perform this complex and high-risk procedure. Prior work has documented decreasing open aortic volume among surgical residents. However, these studies report average national case volume with a limited understanding of the variation in OAR exposure among training programs and trainees. We sought to evaluate the current open AAA repair trends among individual accredited vascular surgery training programs and vascular surgery residents to better evaluate trainees' exposure to OAR.MethodsWe identified elderly Medicare beneficiaries undergoing OAR and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) between 2010 and 2014. Accredited vascular surgery training program hospitals were identified. OAR and EVAR volume was aggregated at the program level and the number of senior vascular surgery trainees per year at each program was captured. The training program all-payer total AAA repair volume was calculated based on the national proportion of patients undergoing AAA covered by Medicare in the Vascular Quality Initiative. Temporal trends in program and vascular surgery trainee OAR and EVAR volume were calculated.ResultsA total of 119,408 (77%) EVAR and 35,042 (23%) were identified in the Medicare database between 2010 and 2014. Of these, 21% were performed among the 111 training programs, including 22,227 (73%) EVAR and 8416 (27%) OAR. The total OAR volume among training programs decreased by 38% during the study period, from a median of 29.1 to 18.2 OAR. In 2014, 25% of programs performed fewer than 10 OARs annually. Among senior vascular surgery trainees, the median number of OAR decreased from 10.0 in 2010 to 6.4 in 2014 and approximately one-half of senior trainees had exposure to fewer than five OAR in 2014.ConclusionsExposure to OAR among vascular surgery training programs has dramatically decreased, with nearly one-half of senior trainees performing fewer than five OAR in 2014. The variable and diminishing OAR exposure among vascular surgery training program highlights growing concerns surrounding competence in complex open repairs and suggest that only a small proportion of current trainees have ample opportunity to develop confidence and proficiency in this high-risk operation.     

Midterm results of endovascular aneurysm sealing to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm

Background

Endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) represents a novel approach to the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. It uses polymer technology to achieve an anatomic seal within the sac of the aneurysm. This cohort study reports the early clinical outcomes, technical refinements, and learning curve during the initial EVAS experience at a single institution.

Racial disparities in presentation and outcomes for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

ObjectiveIn the present study, we used a national database to identify racial differences in the presentation and outcomes for patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (EVAR) and identified areas for improving their care.MethodsWe queried the EVAR-targeted National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2016-2019) to identify patients who had undergone EVAR for both ruptured and nonruptured AAAs. The patients were categorized according to race (White, Black, and Asian). Patients with a history of abdominal aortic surgery or an indication other than AAAs were excluded. The data was analyzed using the χ² and Kruskal-Wallis tests, presented as frequencies and percentages or median and interquartile range (IQR) for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.ResultsWe identified 3629 patients (16.6% female), including 3312 White (91.3%), 248 Black (6.8%), and 69 Asian (1.9%) patients. Black patients were more frequently women (27.0%) compared with White patients (15.9%) and were younger (median age, 71 years; IQR, 64-77 years) than White (median age, 73 years; IQR, 67-79 years) and Asian (median age, 76 years; IQR, 67-81 years) patients (P < .001 for both). The incidence of smoking, congestive heart failure, and dialysis dependency was highest for Black patients, and the incidence of obesity was lowest for Asian patients. The AAAs in Black patients extended more frequently beyond the aortic bifurcation (P = .047). In Asian patients, the internal iliac arteries were more involved (P = .040). For Black patients, 29.8% of the EVARs were performed in a nonelective setting compared with 20.2% for the White and 15.9% for the Asian patients (P < .001). The aneurysm diameter, nonruptured symptomatic rate, and rupture rate were similar across the groups (P = .807). The operative time was prolonged for Black (median, 128 minutes; IQR, 96-177 minutes) compared with White (median, 114 minutes; IQR, 84-162 minutes) patients (P < .001). Postoperatively, Black patients were more likely to require blood transfusion (16.5%) and had prolonged length of hospital stay (median, 2 days; IQR, 1-4 days) compared with White (10.0%; median, 1 day; IQR, 1-3 days) and Asian (4.3%; median, 1 day; IQR, 1-3 days) patients (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively). Black patients also had a higher 30-day readmission rate (P = .038). On multivariate analysis, Black race was an independent factor for length of stay >1 day after both elective and nonelective EVAR and 30-day readmission for elective EVAR, but not 30-day mortality after elective and nonelective EVAR.ConclusionsIn the present nationwide sample of EVAR cases, Black patients were more often women and younger. Despite similar rates of symptomatic and ruptured AAAs at presentation and 30-day mortality, Black patients more often presented and were treated during the same nonelective admission; they also had associated increased length of hospital stay and readmission. These findings signal a missed opportunity to diagnose, optimize, and treat this particular group of patients in an elective setting.     

腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术中短支对接困难的处理

目的:探讨腔内隔绝术治疗腹主动脉瘤术中短支对接困难的处理方法。方法:对本中心自1997年3月至2004年6月间施行的腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术进行回顾性研究。共有51例出现短支对接困难。其中,出现导丝进入主体短支产生困难的50例次,对侧单支导入主体短支产生困难的12例次。术中采用了多角度透视法、对侧导丝导引法、左肱动脉穿刺近端漂流法、导丝上下贯通法、球囊扩张法、超硬导丝回撤法和导丝牵张法。结果:多角度透视法应用于50例病人,对侧导丝导引法14例,左肱动脉穿刺近端漂流法10例,导丝上下贯通法3例,球囊扩张法2例,超硬导丝回撤法10例,导丝牵张法5例。51例病人均获成功对接,使分叉型移植物成功地隔绝了腹主动脉瘤。结论:短支对接是放置分叉型移植物手术操作过程中的难点,短支对接困难会造成手术的时间延长甚至失败。利用多种血管腔内技术可以解决这一问题。     

腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术后支架内急性血栓形成闭塞1例

<正>患者男,68岁,体检发现腹主动脉瘤,左肾动脉狭窄9个月。查体:脐周偏右可触及搏动性包块,呈橄榄型,约5cm×13cm。腹主动脉CTA:动脉粥样硬化,腹主动脉瘤(肾下型)伴附壁血栓形成,左肾动脉起始部中度狭窄伴局限性混合斑块(图1)。入院后全麻行腹主动脉瘤覆膜支架腔内隔绝术,主体支架24mm×12mm×170mm,右髂支16 mm×12 mm×100mm。先用4.5 mm×12.0mm球囊预扩张左肾动脉狭窄处,在其内保留导丝;释放主动     

Trends of 30-day mortality and morbidities in endovascular repair of intact abdominal aortic aneurysm during the last decade

Objective

Significant research efforts have been made to improve the safety and efficacy of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in treating abdominal aortic aneurysm. This study aimed to examine the trends of perioperative outcomes of EVAR in the recent decade using a national validated database.

腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术后髂支闭塞的危险因素分析

目的探讨腹主动脉瘤腔内修复手术(endovascular repair,EVAR)后髂支闭塞的危险因素。方法对2008年1月至2018年3月在新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院诊治的146例腹主动脉瘤EVAR病人的临床资料进行回顾性分析,按髂支闭塞情况分为闭塞组和非闭塞组,在单因素分析后,行多因素Logistic回归分析。结果 146例病人术后髂支闭塞17例(11.6%),两组间差异有检验效应(P<0.05)的因素为:合并高脂血症、慢性支气管炎,中性粒细胞百分比,活化部分凝血活酶时间,凝血酶比率,手术入路为切开显露,手术时间(min),右髂总动脉直径分层(≤12 mm、12～16 mm、≥16 mm),髂动脉狭窄或钙化≥50%,髂动脉扭曲成角≥60°,术后髂动脉流出道狭窄,髂内动脉流出道闭塞,支架远端延伸到髂外动脉。行多因素Logistic回归分析,EVAR术后髂支闭塞危险因素(OR>1)为:髂动脉狭窄或钙化≥50%[OR=7.727,95%CI(1.045,57.149),P=0.045];髂动脉扭曲成角≥60°[OR=5.258,95%CI(1.055,26.198),P=0.0...     

Simple renal cyst and its association with sac shrinkage after endovascular aneurysm repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectivePatients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) frequently have simple renal cyst (SRC), a common manifestation of connective tissue degeneration. This study aimed to determine whether SRC is a risk factor for failure of sac shrinkage after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).MethodsBetween October 2013 and May 2017, there were 155 consecutive patients with an infrarenal AAA or a common iliac artery aneurysm who underwent EVAR with the GORE C3 Excluder (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) at Tokyo Medical University Hospital. All these patients were registered in a prospectively maintained database. Any kidney lesion >5 mm in diameter, with no evidence of contrast enhancement or septation and with low attenuation, was defined as SRC. A change in sac size of >5 mm from baseline was considered significant. The patients were divided into those with SRC and those without SRC, and sac shrinkage at 1 year and 2 years was compared. The presence of SRC was assessed with respect to being a risk factor for failure of sac shrinkage at 1 year using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe patients were divided into two groups: those with SRC (92 patients [59.0%]) and those without SRC (63 patients [41.0%]). At 1 year and 2 years, significant differences were observed in the proportion of sac shrinkage between patients with SRC and those without SRC (19.2% vs 42.4% [P = .003] and 19.6% vs 53.3% [P = .001], respectively). Patients with SRC showed significantly less sac shrinkage than those without SRC at 1 year and 2 years (−2.0 ± 5.5 mm vs −4.4 ± 6.2 mm [P = .002] and −1.8 ± 6.3 mm vs −6.4 ± 8.6 mm [P = .005], respectively). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that SRC (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.63; P = .002) and initial sac size (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.09; P = .027) were positive and negative risk factors for sac shrinkage, respectively.ConclusionsThe presence of SRC is a risk factor for failure of sac shrinkage after EVAR. This suggests that AAA in patients with SRC has a more degenerated wall than in those without SRC. The property of the aneurysm wall may be associated with sac shrinkage after EVAR.     

腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术后各型内漏相关性分析（附272例报告）

目的: 探讨腹主动脉瘤（abdominal aortic aneurysm, AAA）腔内修复术后发生内漏的危险因素。方法: 回顾性分析2014年1月至2015年10月272例AAA病人行腔内修复术的临床资料和术后3、6、12、24、36个月随访结果。分析腔内修复术后各型内漏发生率及其与临床特征、支架类型、动脉瘤颈结构的关系。结果: 272例病人腔内修复术后内漏总发生率为15.8%(43/272),其中Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ或Ⅳ型以及张力性内漏（Ⅴ型）的发生率分别为7.4%(20/272)、6.3%(17/272)、1.5%(4/272)和0.7%(2/272)。Ⅰ型内漏多在随访3个月时发现,而其他类型内漏在随访12个月或更晚发现。动脉瘤近端瘤颈短（<1.5 cm）、重度扭曲（>45°）、形状不规则或钙化程度高（>25%）与Ⅰa型内漏发生显著相关（P<0.05）。持续通畅的肠系膜下动脉以及存在≥2根罪犯血管是Ⅱ型内漏发生的危险因素（P<0.05）。年龄、美国麻醉医师协会（American Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA）病情分级、吸烟以及合并高血压、糖尿病、冠心病、肺部疾病等对内漏发生率无影响。不同类型的人工血管支架对内漏发生有显著影响（P=0.047）。与其他类型支架相比,Endurant支架的内漏发生率最低（10.7%）。结论: 制定腔内修复手术方案时,应充分评估AAA的特征和内漏风险,以期达到较好的疗效。     

The incidence of hypomagnesaemia following abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

IntroductionMagnesium is important for cardiac function. Hypomagnesaemia is associated with a higher incidence of arrhythmias and poorer outcomes in cardiac surgery. No studies have investigated the incidence or impact of postoperative hypomagnesaemia after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. We aim to assess the incidence of hypomagnesaemia after AAA repair in our population.MethodsRetrospective analysis was performed of patients who underwent elective AAA surgery at a single vascular centre. The last 110 patients undergoing open or endovascular AAA repair were identified. The hospital pathology system was used to identify the immediate postoperative serum magnesium levels as well as patient demographics and admission details. Hypomagnesaemia was defined as serum magnesium of <0.7mmol/l.ResultsA total of 211 patients were studied and there were 3 deaths. Of the patients included, 101 underwent open elective AAA repair and 110 underwent endovascular repair. In the elective open repair group, 73 patients (73%) were hypomagnesaemic. In the endovascular repair group, 35 (32%) had hypomagnesaemia. A t-test showed a statistically significant difference in hypomagnesaemia between the open and endovascular groups (p<0.001).ConclusionsAAA surgery is associated with a high incidence of postoperative hypomagnesaemia, which is significantly greater among open repair patients. This is likely to have an effect on cardiac activity and lead to cardiac complications such as arrhythmias and poorer postoperative outcomes, especially in the open AAA repair subgroup. This stresses the importance of serum magnesium and cardiac monitoring in the postoperative phase. A prospective study is proposed to further investigate these findings, and their potential implications on perioperative morbidity and mortality.     

腹主动脉瘤破裂行腔内修复术1例

患者女,80岁,因急性脑梗死伴腹痛9h入院。查体:下腹部左侧触及6～7cm搏动性包块,右侧中枢性面瘫,右上肢肌力0级,疼痛刺激无反应,右下肢外旋,可屈曲,无自主运动;左侧肢体肌力Ⅳ级,左侧Babinski征阳性,右侧病理征未引出。既往有糖尿病、高血压及腹主动脉瘤病史。     

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy after endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm

INTRODUCTIONMost gastroenterological surgeries, even pancreatic surgery, can now be performed laparoscopically. However, the management of concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and intra-abdominal malignancy is controversial. The performance of endovascular repair (EVAR) for AAA has been increasing; however, there is no report of laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy after EVAR.PRESENTATION OF CASEA pancreatic tumor was detected during follow-up after EVAR for AAA. The enlarging tumor was diagnosed as an intraductal papillary mucinous tumor with a nodule. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy was safely performed. After laparoscopic dissection around the pancreas head, an additional incision was made in the upper abdomen, and pancreatic reconstruction was performed through the incision. In spite of grade B pancreatic fistulae, the patient recovered with medical therapy. The pathological diagnosis was intraductal papillary mucinous adenoma with small foci of carcinoma in situ. The patient has been well with neither recurrence of the tumor nor any cardiovascular events for 18 months.DISCUSSIONThe management of concomitant malignancy and AAA is challenging, especially in patients with a pancreatic tumor. The reasons for the rarity of treatment include prognosis, anatomical vicinity, and postoperative complications. EVAR reduces retroperitoneal adhesions. A laparoscopic approach provides a small operative field and decreases mutual interference with AAA. Moreover, reconstruction is performed through an upper abdominal incision apart from the AAA. Hand-sewing provides more reliable stability of the anastomosis.CONCLUSIONThe increasing frequency of performance of EVAR for AAA and subsequent computed tomography may help to detect malignancy. Laparoscopic surgery appears to be a valid approach to malignancy after EVAR.     

肾下腹主动脉瘤的外科治疗

目的总结肾下腹主动脉瘤(AAA)的手术治疗经验。方法回顾性分析1999年7月至2011年10月行开腹手术治疗的91例肾下AAA患者的临床资料。84例接受择期手术,7例行急诊手术。结果 1例AAA破裂急诊手术患者因失血性休克、弥散性血管内凝血于术中死亡,1例破裂急诊手术患者术后1周因多脏器功能衰竭死亡,1例择期手术患者术后第3日因急性大面积心肌梗死而死亡。82例患者获得随访,平均随访时间5.1年,术后3年死于心肌梗死及脑梗死各1例;其余患者常规性腹部及血管彩超检查,其中远端吻合口闭塞2例,肠梗阻2例,未发现吻合口假性动脉瘤等其它并发症。结论开腹手术治疗AAA效果确切,因手术技巧、麻醉及术后监护水平等的提高,死亡率较低。     

Mortality analysis of endovascular aneurysm sealing versus endovascular aneurysm repair

BackgroundEndovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS), using the Nellix endovascular aneurysm sealing system, has been associated with high reintervention and migration rates. However, prior reports have suggested that EVAS might be related to a lower all-cause mortality compared with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). In the present study, we examined the 5-year all-cause mortality trends after EVAS and EVAR.MethodsWe compared the 333 EVAS patients in the EVAS-1 Nellix U.S. investigational device exemption trial with 16,497 infrarenal EVAR controls from the Vascular Quality Initiative, treated between 2014 and 2016, after applying the exclusion criteria from the investigational device exemption trial (ie, hemodialysis, creatinine >2.0 mg/dL, rupture). As a secondary analysis, we stratified the patients by aneurysm diameter (<5.5 cm and ≥5.5 cm). We calculated propensity scores after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and anatomic characteristics and applied inverse probability weighting to compare the risk-adjusted long-term mortality using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.ResultsAfter weighting, the EVAS group had experienced similar 5-year mortality compared with the controls from the Vascular Quality Initiative (EVAS vs EVAR, 18% vs 14%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-1.7; P = .70). The subgroup analysis demonstrated that for patients with an aneurysm diameter of <5.5 cm, EVAS was associated with higher 5-year mortality compared with EVAR (19% vs 11%; HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7-4.7; P = .013). In patients with an aneurysm diameter of ≥5.5 cm, EVAS was associated with lower mortality within the first 2 years (2-year mortality: HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13-0.62; P = .002). However, compared with EVAR, EVAS was associated with higher mortality between 2 and 5 years (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.0; P = .005), with no mortality difference at 5 years (18% vs 17%; HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.4-1.4; P = .46).ConclusionsWithin the overall population, EVAS was associated with similar 5-year mortality compared with EVAR. EVAS was associated with higher mortality for those with small aneurysms (<5.5 cm). For those with larger aneurysms (≥5.5 cm), EVAS was initially associated with lower mortality within the first 2 years, although this advantage was lost thereafter, with higher mortality after 2 years. Future studies are required to evaluate the specific causes of death and to elucidate the potential beneficial mechanism behind sac obliteration that leads to this potential initial survival benefit. This could help guide the development of future grafts with better proximal fixation and sealing that also incorporate sac obliteration.     

高风险患者腹主动脉瘤手术与腔内治疗效果的比较

目的 比较高风险患者腹主动脉瘤(abdominal aortic aneurysm,AAA)手术治疗(opensurgical repair,OSR)与腔内治疗(endovascular aneurysm repair,EVAR)的效果,探讨高风险患者AAA治疗方式的选择.方法 利用(customized probability index,CPI)危险评分方法[1]筛选出我院1998年至2008年高风险患者55例,比较OSR组(20例)与EVAR组(35例)围手术期及术后近期结果.结果 OSR组随访率100%,平均随访6年3个月.EVAR组随访率94%,平均随访5年10个月.(1)手术时间高风险患者EVAR组(3.1±0.6)h短于OSR组[(4.9±0.9)h(P<0.05)];(2)EVAR组术中出血、ICU时间和住院时间均短于OSR组(P<0.01);(3)围手术期死亡率EVAR组(2.86%)明显低于OSR组(15.00%);(4)术后并发症发生率EVAR组(17%)明显低于OSR组(40%);(5)EVAR组术后并发症主要为内漏(8.57%);(6)OSR组并发症主要为心脏相关性疾病(25%).结论 EVAR对于高风险患者AAA的治疗可以更少的导致围手术期心血管事件的发生,降低围手术期的死亡率和并发症发生率.CPI可以相对准确评估血管手术围手术期死亡率和并发症的发生率,可用于指导围手术期的治疗策略.     

The impact of an interventional vascular specialty team on institutional endovascular aneurysm repair outcomes

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a technically demanding, resource-intensive procedure associated with a significant learning curve. In July 2002, the Department of Defense allocated nearly $5,000,000 for "Advances in Medical Practice" (AMP) and EVAR within the six major military medical centers in the United States Army. We sought to determine the impact of several institutional changes associated with the use of these funds. METHODS: We performed a single-institution, retrospective comparison of our early EVAR outcomes in physiologically similar patients before and after the use of AMP capital and the acquisition of a trained and equipped endovascular operative team. Morbidity, mortality, and operative variables were the main outcomes. Mean follow-up interval was 17.6 months. RESULTS: As of November 2004, a total of 114 conventional open and endovascular AAA repairs were performed at our institution since our first EVAR in May 2000. Ten of 51 (20%) total AAA patients were treated with EVAR by a general vascular surgical team before the addition of an endovascular specialty team to the service in July 2002. An additional 28 of 63 (44%) patients have been treated with EVAR since that time for a total of 38 repairs. During the first year evaluated, 20% of aneurysms were repaired with EVAR versus 83% during the most recent year. Devices from four different manufacturers were used during the study interval. Patients treated by the endovascular team had significantly less mean estimated blood loss (EBL), packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfused, intravenous (IV) contrast used, and shorter operative times. Morbidity, mortality, endoleaks, and other variables were similar. In linear regression analysis adjusting for complex, time-consuming repairs that required adjunctive procedures outside the realm of normal EVAR, endovascular team EVAR was independently associated with decreased mean operative time, EBL, PRBCs transfused, and IV contrast used. CONCLUSIONS: At a major military medical center, EVAR has become the preferred technique for the repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. EVAR by a dedicated endovascular surgical team favorably impacts several important operative variables and may improve overall outcomes. Some of these operative variables may be device specific.     

Propensity score analysis in observational studies: outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE: Large databases composed of well-designed prospectively collected cohort data provide an opportunity to examine and compare healthcare treatments in actual clinical practice settings. Because the analysis of these data often leads to a retrospective cohort design, it is essential to adequately adjust for lack of balance in patient characteristics when making treatment comparisons. We used matched propensity scoring in a cohort of patients undergoing elective aneurysm repair as an illustrative example of this important statistical method that adjusts for baseline characteristics and selection bias by matching covariables. METHODS: By using prospectively collected clinical data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, we studied 30-day mortality, 1-year survival, and postoperative complications in 1904 patients who underwent elective AAA repair (endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR], n=717 (37.7%); open aneurysm repair, n=1187 [62.3%]) at 123 Veterans Health Administration's hospitals between May 1, 2001, and September 30, 2003. In bivariate analysis, patient characteristics and operative and hospital variables were associated with both type of surgery and outcomes of surgery. Therefore, the predicted probability of receiving EVAR was tabulated for all patients by using multiple logistic regression to control for 32 independent demographic and clinical characteristics and then stratified into 5 groups. Patients were matched within strata based on similar levels of the independent measures (a propensity score technique), creating a pseudo-randomized control design. The proportion of patients with the morbidity and mortality outcomes was then compared between the EVAR and open procedures within strata to control for selection. RESULTS: Patients undergoing EVAR had significantly lower unadjusted 30-day (3.1% versus 5.6%, P=.01) and 1-year mortality (8.7% versus 12.1%, P=.018) than patients undergoing open repair. By using propensity scoring, the proportions of EVAR patients experiencing 30-day mortality were equal or less than patients undergoing open procedures for all levels of probability and decreased as the probability of EVAR increased. Furthermore, propensity scoring also showed that patients having EVAR had lower 1-year mortality and experienced fewer perioperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: We used a propensity score approach to examine outcomes after elective AAA repair to statistically control for many factors affecting both treatment selection and outcome. Patients who underwent elective EVAR had substantially lower perioperative mortality and morbidity rates compared with patients having open repair, which was not explained solely by patient selection in an observational dataset.     

Perioperative blood transfusion in anemic patients undergoing elective endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair

ObjectiveAlthough blood transfusion can be lifesaving in active hemorrhage or severe anemia, it is also associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Several trials have established this risk and therefore defined a restrictive standard for transfusion, but this threshold and the risk of transfusions have not been specifically examined in vascular surgery patients. We therefore sought to assess transfusion practices and outcomes of anemic patients undergoing elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).MethodsThe Vascular Quality Initiative database was queried for patients undergoing EVAR between the years 2008 and 2017. Anemic patients were included in the study and were further stratified into mild anemia, defined by a hemoglobin level of 10 to 13 g/dL in men or 10 to 12 g/dL in women, and moderate to severe anemia, defined by a hemoglobin level <10 g/dL. The primary study outcomes were in-hospital mortality and complications.ResultsAmong 27,777 EVAR patients, one-third (n = 9232) were anemic and included in the study. One-fifth (n = 1866) of anemic patients received a perioperative transfusion. Transfused patients were more likely to have a history of cardiovascular disease. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher for anemic patients who received transfusions, both in mild anemia (mortality, 3.6% vs 0.4% in no transfusion; P < .001) and in moderate to severe anemia (4.5% vs 1.3%; P < .01). Morbidity was also significantly higher, with anemic patients who received a transfusion having higher rates of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, dysrhythmias, renal complications, leg ischemia, respiratory complications, and reoperation compared with anemic patients who did not receive any transfusion. The 30-day mortality was also higher in transfused patients (P < .001). After adjustment for patients' demographics, comorbidities, and operative factors, transfusion in anemic patients was associated with a nearly 4.4-fold increased odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 4.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.72-7.05; P < .001) and 4.3-fold higher odds of any in-hospital complication (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 3.47-5.34; P < .001). This was more pronounced among patients with mild anemia, with 5.7 times (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 1.78-18.0) and 4.3 times (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 3.46-5.29) the odds of in-hospital mortality and complications, respectively.ConclusionsAmong anemic patients undergoing elective EVAR, transfusion is associated with an increased risk of death and in-hospital complications, even after controlling for patients' comorbidities and operative factors. These data suggest that the restrictive use of blood transfusions might be safer in vascular surgery EVAR patients. Medical management of anemia may be warranted in these patients to reduce morbidity and mortality; however, further studies are needed to evaluate effectiveness.