Locoregional Anesthesia Has Lower Risks of Cardiac Complications Than General Anesthesia After Prolonged Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

ObjectivesWhile general anesthesia is the primary anesthesia in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), some studies suggested locoregional anesthesia could be a feasible alternative for eligible patients. However, most evidence was from retrospective studies and was subjected to an inherent selection bias that general anesthesia is often chosen for more complex and prolonged cases. To mitigate this selection bias, this study aimed to compare 30-day outcomes of prolonged non-emergent intact infrarenal EVAR in patients undergoing locoregional or general anesthesia. In addition, risk factors associated with prolonged operative time in EVAR were identified. Designretrospective large-scale national registry study. SettingAmerican College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) targeted database from 2012-2022 Participants4075 out of 16,438 (24.79%) patients had prolonged EVAR. Among patients with prolonged EVAR, 324 (7.95%) were under locoregional anesthesia. There were 3,751 (92.05%) under general anesthesia, where 955 of them were matched to the locoregional anesthesia cohort. InterventionsPatients undergoing infrarenal EVAR were included. Exclusion criteria included age<18 years, emergency cases, ruptured AAA, and acute intraoperative conversion to open. Only cases with prolonged operative times (>157 minutes) were selected. A 1:3 propensity-score matching was used to address demographics, baseline characteristics, aneurysm diameter, distant aneurysm extent, and concomitant procedures between patients under locoregional and general anesthesia. Thirty-day postoperative outcomes were assessed. Moreover, factors associated with prolonged EVAR were identified by multivariable logistic regression. Measurements and Main ResultsExcept for general anesthesia contraindications, patients undergoing locoregional or general anesthesia exhibited largely similar preoperative characteristics. After propensity-score matching, patients under locoregional and general anesthesia had a lower risk of myocardial infarction (0.93% vs 2.83%, p=0.04) but comparable 30-day mortality (3.72% vs 2.72%, p=0.35) and other complications. Specific concomitant procedures, aneurysm anatomy, and comorbidities associated with prolonged EVAR were identified. ConclusionsLocoregional anesthesia can be a safe and effective alternative to general anesthesia, particularly in EVAR cases with anticipated complexity and prolonged operative times, as it offers the potential benefit of reduced cardiac complications. Risk factors associated with prolonged EVAR can aid in preoperative risk stratification and inform the decision-making process regarding anesthesia choice.