Coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet activation in patients undergoing open and endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm

BackgroundEndovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is associated with an improved perioperative mortality compared to open surgical repair. This benefit may reflect reduced incidence of microvascular and macrovascular thrombotic complications after EVAR.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to review and compare the effects of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), open surgical repair, and EVAR on coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet activation.MethodsA MEDLINE (1966-2010) and Cochrane library search for articles relating to the effects of AAA, open surgical repair, and EVAR on hemostasis was performed utilizing and cross-linking terms such as clotting, fibrinolysis, AAA, EVAR, and open surgical repair. Studies with a small cohort of patients (less than 7) or in which values of assessed biomarkers were not included were rejected.ResultsAAA is associated with increased thrombin generation, activity, and fibrin turnover as evidenced by increased plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III-complex (TAT), activated protein C-protein C inhibitor (APC-PCI), fibrin-monomer-fibrinogen (FM-F), F1+2, fibrinogen, and D-dimer. The extent of hemostatic derangement correlates with the volume of intraluminal thrombus. This procoagulant state is exaggerated in the immediate perioperative period after both open surgical repair and EVAR, but is attenuated at medium-term follow-up although not normalized.ConclusionThe resultant prothrombotic diathesis after open surgical repair and EVAR may account for the high level of perioperative thrombotic complications.