Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a significant cause of morbidity and
mortality worldwide whose incidence is increasing. Traditionally these aneu
rysms have been repaired by a standard surgical approach. Over the past dec
ade, spurred by the development of endovascular therapies for a variety of
vascular pathologies? the endoluminal treatment of AAAs has rapidly prolife
rated. Early stent-grafts used to treat AAAs were primarily 'home-made'. Pr
esently there are a number of industry-made devices available on both an in
vestigational and approved for use basis and the number is growing. This re
view focuses on the types of stent-grafts currently available, indications
for use and patient selection, as well as new patents issued over the years
1998 - 2000. The ideal stent-graft is yet to be developed and not all AAAs
are amenable to endovascular treatment. This is a dynamic field where deve
lopments are likely to continue at a rapid pace.