30-Day Readmission and Outcomes after Fenestrated Versus Traditional Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abstract

Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative for repairing complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Comparisons of outcomes for FEVAR and traditional endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) are limited. We evaluated outcomes following elective endovascular AAA repair with FEVAR or EVAR. Hospitalizations for elective nonruptured AAA repair from 2014 to 2016 were selected from the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) using ICD-9 and ICD-10 procedure and diagnosis codes. In-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), complications, 30-day readmission, and charges were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for confounding between groups. We identified 23,262 EVAR and 2,373 FEVAR with nonruptured elective procedures. In-hospital mortality was 0.14% for both groups (P = 0.99). Of those at risk for readmission (21,152 EVAR, 1,915 FEVAR), index LOS was greater for FEVAR compared to EVAR, 1.8 days versus 1.7 days (P = 0.028). There was no difference in procedure type based on hospital location (P = 0.37), teaching status (P = 0.17) or hospital size (P = 0.26). During the index hospitalization, pneumonia, renal, and respiratory complications were similar between groups (all P > 0.05). FEVAR patients were more likely to experience cardiac complications (P = 0.0098) or hemorrhage (P = 0.029). Total charges for the index stay were greater for FEVAR compared to EVAR ($125,381 vs. $113,513, P < 0.0001). All-cause 30-day readmission was similar between groups (7.0% EVAR vs. 8.0% FEVAR, P = 0.37), as were time to readmission (11.9 vs. 13.3 days, P = 0.16) and readmission charges ($53,967 vs. $56,617, P = 0.75). Renal failure was the most common readmission stay complication, with similar rates for EVAR and FEVAR patients (P = 0.22). Pneumonia was a more common complication during the readmission stay for EVAR patients (P = 0.004). Renal disease and chronic pulmonary disease were the most common comorbidities in the readmission stay for both groups. For patients with nonruptured elective AAA, FEVAR was not associated with increased mortality, length of stay, readmission, or most complications compared to traditional EVAR. Despite the increased technical complexity of cannulating and stenting visceral arteries with FEVAR, these data demonstrate that FEVAR carries a similar risk of renal, respiratory, and infectious complications compared to traditional EVAR. FEVAR patients were more likely to experience hemorrhagic and cardiac complications during the index hospitalization. EVAR patients were more likely to have pneumonia during readmission. The overall risk for readmission after an endovascular aortic repair was associated with female sex, greater age, chronic pulmonary disease, malignancy, and loss of function. Further investigations into the causes and prevention of 30-day readmissions are needed for both procedures.