Current modalities for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: Implications for nurses

BackgroundAbdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) represent a significant health problem in the United States as more than 1 million people are afflicted and the prevalence is only expected to increase. Given that AAA rupture carries a high mortality rate, there is interest in repairing the aneurysm electively before aneurysm rupture. Two approaches to aneurysm repair are open repair and endovascular repair. However, limited data comparing the outcomes of these different methods exist.ObjectiveA systematic review of recent clinical trials was conducted to identify and compare the short- and long-term clinical outcomes between open and endovascular repair.MethodsProspective, controlled trials published in the last 5 years were acquired using PubMed, Ovid, and Scopus databases.ResultsFour studies were identified during the search. Study trends suggest a perioperative advantage using endovascular repair. However, this advantage does not appear to be maintained in the long term.ConclusionsEach type of repair carries its own risk profile that is likely influenced by additional factors, such as the patient’s age and comorbidities. It is critical that healthcare providers are aware of the risks associated with each approach in order to provide optimal patient care.