Endovascular stenting of abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients unfit for elective open surgery

Endovascular aneurysm repair is useful for patients who are judged unfit fo r surgery. We investigated the outcome of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients fit and unfit for surgery. The 1-year cumulativ e survival for patients unfit for surgery and patients unfit for general an aesthesia was 20% and 23%, respectively. The overall health status of patie nts was an important predictor of survival after endovascular repair. The r isks of endovascular aneurysm repair might, therefore, exceed that of non-o perative management. Caution should he used when advising these patients ab out endovascular repair.