Early Period Results for Endovascular Stent Grafting in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Single-Center Experience

INTRODUCTION: In the management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) presents as a superior alternative to conventional surgery, especially for elderly patients with elevated surgical risks and accompanying comorbidities. This study aimed to examine the early outcomes of AAA patients who underwent EVAR.
METHODS: A total of 33 patients diagnosed with AAA who underwent EVAR were evaluated retrospectively. In every patient, the indication for the EVAR procedure was an abdominal aorta diameter exceeding 5.5 cm or over 5 cm when accompanied by additional comorbid factors. During the 1-year follow-up period for the patients, data on early-phase outcomes, lengths of stays in ICU and the hospital, and post-procedure complications were collected.
RESULTS: In 5 of the patients who underwent EVAR, both iliac artery aneurysm and AAA were present, while in 28, only AAA existed. The median length of ICU stay was 13 hr, and the median length of hospital stay was 3 days. In 12% of the patients, Type I-III endoleak was detected. In the follow-ups examinations, two patients without detected endoleaks manifested lower extremity ischemia or rupture. The total complication rate was 21.2%. There were no mortality cases during the early follow-up period.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: EVAR, in older patients with coexisting comorbidities, offers advantages in diminishing durations in intensive care and hospital stays, potentially boosting early survival outcomes. However, the results from our single-center study indicated that a substantial fraction of patients are susceptible to complications during the early postoperative period.