ENDOVASCULAR REPAIR OF ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMS 

The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2003 August;44(4):535-42

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Brave New World: the role for endovascular aneurysm repair in contemporary vascular surgery

Tonnessen B. H., Sternbergh W. C., Money S. R.

Section of Vascular Surgery Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA, USA

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) poses certain challenges to the vascular surgeon. Based upon our 6-year experience, we have highlighted important aspects of patient selection. EVAR can be performed in patients with significant co-morbidities, but technical success may be limited by anatomic criteria. Short to mid-term outcomes report low mortality and morbidity from EVAR. Acute and delayed conversion, rupture, endoleak, limb occlusion, and migration are complications occurring in EVAR; their frequency, presentation and management are described. EVAR has up to 90% success rate at several years follow-up including the use of secondary procedures. Secondary procedures are not infrequent after EVAR; thus close follow-up is of the utmost importance. We predict that EVAR will continue to be a valuable tool in the future.