Mid-term Outcomes following Emergency Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

ObjectiveEmergency Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair (eEVAR) is a rapidly evolving approach to ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (rAAA). Yet longer-term outcomes following eEVAR remain unclear. This study compares mid-term outcomes of eEVAR and open rAAA.MethodsA prospective database for all patients undergoing eEVAR and open rAAA from January 2006 to April 2010 was analysed. Patients were offered eEVAR if anatomically suitable.Results52 patients (45 male, median age 78 years (62–92 years), underwent eEVAR, 50 patients (44 male, median age = 71 (62–95 years) underwent open rAAA repair. In-hospital mortalities were 12% (6/52) for eEVAR, 32% (16/50) for open repair.There were five re-interventions (10%) in the eEVAR group. The peri-operative survival benefits of eEVAR over open rAAA repair were maintained at 1 and 2 years post-operatively with open repair demonstrating a two-fold increased risk of mortality (Hazard ratio 2.2, Fisher Exact test, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.108–4.62, p = 0.0122). Overall survival was 81% at 1 year, 73% at 2 years for eEVAR, and 62% at 1 year and 52% at 2 years for open rAAA repair.ConclusionEEVAR is associated with excellent mid-term survival in this cohort. We would recommend eEVAR as the management of choice for rAAA in anatomically suitable patients where local facilities and expertise exist.