Mortality and morbidity following endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: Analysis of two single centre experiences

Objective: to show how differences in anatomical and physiological risk fac tors can affect the outcome of endovascular repair of AAA by describing the experience of two centres with different selection policies. Methods: one hundred and thirty-five patients (group I) were treated at Que en's Medical Centre (Nottingham, U.K.) using 101 in-house made and 34 manuf actured stent-grafts. Median diameter, length and angulation of the proxima l aneurysm neck were 26 nim, 27 mm, 40 degrees, respectively. Seventy-six p atients had ischaemic heart disease, 47 had left ventricular failure, media n forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 83%, median creatinine was 100 mu mol/l and median age was 72 years. Fifty patients (group I) were treated at Timone Hospital (Marseilles, France) using seven in-house made and 43 manufactured stent-grafts. Median diameter, length and angulation of the proximal aneurysm neck were 25 mm, 34 mm, 33 degrees, respectively. Th irteen patients had ischaemic heart disease, two had left ventricular failu re, median forced expiratory volume in one second was 101%, median creatini ne was 108,mu mol/l and mean age was 72 years. Results: anatomical characteristics of the proximal neck were significantly worse in group I (p=0.02) for the three variables). Cardiac comorbidities were more frequent and mean FEV1 was lower in group I (p <0.0001 and p=0.00 1, respectively. Median aneurysm diameter was significantly greater in grou p I (65 mm) than in group II (53 mm) (p <0.001). Postoperative mortality wa s 9% and 0% in groups I and II respectively (p = 0.03). The incidence of te chnical complications (groin wound complications and side branches endoleak s being excluded) was 20% and 0% in groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.00 06). Conclusion: postoperative mortality and technical complication rates were s ignificantly greater in group I than in group II, readily explained by poor er general condition and worse anatomical characteristics of the proximal n eck in group 1.